Global Journal on
Humanites & Social Sciences
Issue 2 (2014) 09-16
Selected Paper of 3rd World Congress of Administrative and Political Sciences, (APDOL-2014)
28-29 November 2014, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Majoritarianism, Pluralism and Multitude: Case of Turkey
Melih Cosgun *, Institute of Social Sciences, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Sakarya
University, Turkey.
Cagdas Zarpli, Institute of Social Sciences, Department of Political Science and Publ ic Administration, Sakarya
University, Turkey.
Suggested Citation:
Cosgun, M. & Zarpli, C. (2015). Majoritarianism, Pluralism and Multitude: Case of Turkey, Global Journal on
Humanites & Social Sciences. [Online]. 02, pp 09-16. Available from:http://www.world-education-
center.org/index.php/pntsbs
Received May 15, 2014; revised July 10, 2014; accepted September 09, 2014.
Selection and peer review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Andreea Iluzia IACOB, Bucharest Academy of
Economic Studies, Romania.
©2015 Academic World Education & Research Center. All rights reserved.
Abstract
The concept of democracy has been revised many times from past in the context of content and meaning. This
concept is emerged as different application forms in different times and societies. Democracy, which varies with
different content, represents values for administration of public to conceptualize. Democracy which Robert Dahl
made a major contribution in theory various instruments such as; free voters, fairy elections, civil society and
politicians restricting by law. Moreover, Developing countries generally prefer “Majoritarianism” while
developed countries prefer “pluralism”, as defined by J. Madison and A. Tocqueville, as a kind of democracy.
Additionally, the concept of “multitude” represents absolute democracy according to Hardt and Negri. Also,
Laclau and Mouffe have named the concept of “radical democracy”. By drawing theoretical framework of
concept of majoritarianism, pluralism and multitude this study aims to evaluate relationship between these
concepts and examples in Turkey. The examples which determine these study’s limits are generally preferred
about current issues. The position of democracy in Turkey according to mentioned concepts will be discussed at
the end of study.
Keywords: democracy, majoritarianism, pluralism, multitude, Turkey.
* ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Melih Coşgun, Institute of Social Sciences, Department of Political Science and Public
Administration, Sakarya University, Turkey. E-mail address: melih.cosgun@bilecik.edu.tr / Tel.: +90 505 300 7383.