Protest and Politics in Turkey in the 1970s

Protest and Politics in Turkey offers the first comprehensive academic study of Turkey’s 1970s protest cycle, analyzing the political dynamics of the decade and its long-term consequences. Drawing on an original dataset of protests, the book examines the interplay between state repression and protests. The study situates the 1970s as a formative period in Turkish politics, tracing how leftist, nationalist, and Islamist movements developed under conditions of polarization, violence, and authoritarian intervention. It also demonstrates how the 1980 coup reshaped the political arena, suppressed collective action, and created the conditions for the rise of political Islam and the rightward shift that continues to shape Turkish politics today. Providing a detailed examination of historical continuities and disruptions, the author presents a rich tapestry with which to comprehend the complex socio-political landscape of contemporary Turkey. By analyzing both continuities and ruptures, the book shows how the legacies of the 1970s reverberate in contemporary struggles over democracy, authoritarianism, and the role of protest in public life. The book contributes to broader debates on contentious politics, repression, and regime change, and will form essential reading for scholars of social movements, Turkish politics, and comparative authoritarianism.