The Relationship between Politics and Bureaucracy in the Modern State: From the Ottoman Empire to Present-Day Turkey

Abstract

The study reveals the relationship between politics and bureaucracy, the two most fundamental actors of the modern state. The emergence of the modern state can be traced back to the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the rise of modern science. With this process, the sovereignty and authority of the state were established on a secular and rational basis. Bureaucracy stands out as an important structure in the modern state. Through bureaucracy, institutional structures based on the rule of law and rational principles, unlike traditional structures, have been built.

While politics has a decision-making function that derives its legitimacy from the people, bureaucracy is an actor appointed by appointment and whose duties are defined by law. In this context, politicians make decisions, and bureaucrats are responsible for implementing the decisions made by politicians in accordance with the legislation. In the modern state, rational bureaucracy is based on the principle that the areas of responsibility of politics and bureaucracy are separate and that the relationship between them should be distant and impartial. However, in practice, various power struggles occur between politics and bureaucracy. The study first examines the phenomenon of the modern state, then reveals the relationship between politics and bureaucracy, the two most fundamental actors of the modern state. The final section examines and evaluates the relationship between politics and bureaucracy in the context of Turkish political life.

Keywords: Modern state, politics, bureaucracy, Türkiye.