The Interest groups-state interface: the case of Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association

In this study the nature of the overall trends in the relationship between the state and interest groups which began to gain political relevancy since 1960s was analysed. The inquiry begins with the description of the relevant interest groups in the political system, specifically, aimed at providing a background information of the organizational schema of the business interests during the period concerned. The strategies of the relevant associations in business sector in the process of influencing the public policies were investigated. In the analysis, arguments of the ideal-type models of interest group-state relations were employed, notably pluralism. Corporatism and clientelism. Even though none of the models is sufficient by itself to explain the interest group-state relations in Turkish politics on sectoral basis. From this perspective, with regard to Turkey, an emphasis was placed on the interaction between the state and business groups. It was discussed that while in certain areas the Turkish Industrialists and Businesemen's Association seemed to be tolerated to express its views, most areas of the public policy making were strictly closed to the Association in the name of defending the "state authority." Thus, these contradictory tendencies lead to the diversification of interest and strategies. While greatly distorting any ideal type relationship that could be developed between business groups and the state over time.