TÜRKİYE‘DE İŞ ÖRGÜTLERİ VE SİYASET: TİCARET ODALARI İLE HÜKÜMETLER ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİ (1920-1960)

This thesis analyzes the strategic relationships between chambers of commerce and the state, governments, and political parties in Türkiye from 1920 to 1960. Following the abolition of the Ottoman sultanate in 1922 and the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923, the chambers of commerce evolved significantly due to state policies, economic conditions, and ideological shifts. During the Republican era, the businesspeople via the chambers of commerce had to adapt to the national economic policies of the Republican People‘s Party (RPP), particularly during the statist development model from 1929 to 1945, a period that included World War II and the heavy conditions it created on Turkish society and all sectors in Türkiye. It was in this period that some businessmen from different sectors became interested in politics by joining the RPP to overcome the distrust of the state of the private sector. From 1945 to 1960, business communities began to organize independently for their interests, participating in international congresses and building relations with European chambers, and becoming more interested in politics. Under the Democratic Party (DP) from 1950 to 1960, liberal economic policies transformed capital accumulation and state relations. Law 5590 in 1950 facilitated the establishment of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), which became a key representative body for various sectors. This period is exemplified by Üzeyir Avunduk, who held leadership roles in both TOBB and the DP, illustrating the political connections of the chambers. Overall, these developments are crucial for understanding the transformation of chambers of commerce in Türkiye and their role in implementing economic policies under both the RPP and the DP amid national and international constraints, all of which will be covered in this thesis by exploring the dynamics of the historical transformation to contribute to the political and economic history of Türkiye.