Kavramsal ve Tarihi Perspektiften Sendika-Siyaset İlişkisi: Sınıf Oluşumu Temelinde Bir Okuma

The intellectual discourse surrounding the relationship between trade unions and politics has predominantly been confined to descriptive categorizations of unions' political engagements and the typologies of their affiliations with political parties. Such a narrow analytical lens often results in normative inadequacies, failing to capture the broader implications of this relationship. This study seeks to transcend these limitations by situating the union-politics nexus within the broader framework of class formation. Adopting a conceptual history approach, the research traces the evolving meanings attributed to the concept of politics across different historical epochs, drawing upon its etymological roots as well as foundational doctrines within Ancient Greek, Christian, and Islamic traditions. Through this historical and philosophical lens, the study illustrates how working class formation acted as a catalyst for a profound transformation in the meaning and scope of politics, expanding it from an exclusive domain of ruling elites to encompass the collective actions and aspirations of subordinate social groups. In this context, trade unions, as intrinsic manifestations of class-based organisation, are portrayed not merely as economic actors but as inextricably linked to the political sphere. The analysis ultimately argues that by their very nature, trade unions are structurally and functionally embedded in political activity.