Environmentalism and the relativization of the state policy in regard with the environment in Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to analyse the relationship between state and society in regard with the environment. It is a common view that the state has been quate autonomous and independent of social groups in Turkish political history. It has smothered the social groups whenever possible and originated the main source of the political norms and the value system. However, some new arguments draw attention to the 1980s in Turkey and discuss that there has emerged a shift in state policy. The state’s emphasis given the consumption galvanized the emergence of politically organized social groups dealing with the same matter. The study results with the evidence indicating a change in trend of state policy under the two different impacts. First, the environment transcends the national boundary and thus creates an international concern. The international treaties put a limit on the state power and end its being an ultimate authority for its citizens. This is argued in that study as fulfilling the function of aristocracy. Second the environmental groups in Turkey have influenced the state policy both in local and national level. The state policy comes .frequently be determined on the basis of the recommendations of the environmental groups. The changing trend in state policy in regard with environment is termed as the "relativization of the state policy."