Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-jr42d Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T18:37:09.444Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Privatization processes as ideological moments: The block sales of large-scale state enterprises in Turkey in the 2000s

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2015

Merih Angın  and
Pınar Bedirhanoğlu
Merih Angın
Affiliation:
The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Department of International Relations and Political Science, Geneva, Switzerland, merih.angin@graduateinstitute.ch
Pınar Bedirhanoğlu
Affiliation:
Middle East Technical University, Department of International Relations, 06800 Ankara, Turkey, eflani@metu.edu.tr
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In the process of neoliberal transformation in Turkey, what differentiated the 2000s from the previous two decades were the block sale privatizations of large-scale state enterprises such as PETKİM, Türk Telekom, TÜPRAŞ, and ERDEMİR. These block sales, the conditions of which were shaped by political struggles at different levels, were also constitutive political and ideological moments per se, helping to reproduce a particular perception of social reality at the expense of others. This paper will overview and critically problematize the privatization processes of these four enterprises, all completed under the successive AKP governments in power since 2002. By focusing on the apparently technical and economic aspects of the block-sale processes, such as valuation, efficiency enhancement and marketing, the paper calls into question the increased concerns over their transparency, and wonders whether such concerns can be understood as attempts to mask the substantially corrupt nature of capitalist relations of production, which inescapably makes itself felt during these processes.

Keywords

PrivatizationTurkeyneoliberalismAKPlarge-scale state enterprises
Type
Articles
Information
New Perspectives on Turkey , Volume 47: Special Issue on Turkey's Experience with Neoliberal Policies and Globalization , Fall 2012 , pp. 139 - 167
Copyright
Copyright © New Perspectives on Turkey 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aktan, Coşkun Can. Privatization and the Turkish Experience. Ankara: Seçkin Yayıncılık, 2004.Google Scholar
“Aktif Pazarlama’ya Rusya’dan Başladı.” Milliyet, April 27, 2003.Google Scholar
“Alıcı iki Kazak Bir Rus.” Milliyet, July 6, 2007.Google Scholar
“Alıcıların Mali Gücü Hakkında Bilgi Yok.” Milliyet, July 8, 2007.Google Scholar
Angın, Merih. “Turkish Experience in Privatization: The Privatizations of Large-Scale State-Economic Enterprises in the 2000s.” Unpublished MSc Thesis, Middle East Technical University, 2010.Google Scholar
Arin, K. Peren. and Ulubaşoğlu, Mehmet Ali. “Leviathan Resists: The Endogenous Relationship between Privatization and Firm Performance.” Public Choice 140, no. 1–2 (2009): 185–204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aşık, Melih. “Işte Abdülsansür.” Milliyet, April 28, 2005.Google Scholar
Atiyas, Izak. “Recent Privatization Experience of Turkey: A Reappraisal.” In Turkey and the Clobal Economy: Neo-Liberal Restructuring and Integration in the Post-Crisis Era, edited by Öniş, Ziya and Şenses, Fikret, 101–122. London: Routledge, 2009.Google Scholar
Aydemir, Sertan. “Sendika 1400 işçiyi Krize Kurban Etmedi 7025 Çalışanın Maaşı Yüzde 35 indi.” Hürriyet, April 23, 2009.Google Scholar
“Ayşe Askere Gitti.” Milliyet, October 5, 2005.Google Scholar
Bağımsız, Sosyal Bilimciler. Bağımsız Sosyal Bilimciler 2007 Yılı Raporu: 2007 Ilkyazında Dünya ve Türkiye Ekonomisine Baki}. Ankara: Türk Mühendis ve Mimar Odaları Birliği, 2007, http://www.tmmob.org.tr/resimler/ekler/eo1938fc48a2cfb_ek.pdf.Google Scholar
Balkan-Şahin, Sevgi. “Privatization as a Hegemonic Process in Turkey” journal of Contemporary European Studies 18, no. 4 (2010): 483–498.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
“Baykal: Kirvesi mi Akıllı, Erdoğan mı?.” Milliyet, May 11, 2005.Google Scholar
Bedirhanoğlu, Pınar, and Yalman, Galip L. “State, Class and the Discourse: Reflections on the Neoliberal Transformation in Turkey.” In Economic Transitions to Neoliberalism in Middle-income Countries, edited by Saad-Filho, Alfredo and Yalman, Galip L.107–127. New York: Routledge, 2010.Google Scholar
Bila, Fikret. “PTT’nin T’siyken Satsaydık Makus Talihimizi Yenerdik.” Milliyet, July 4, 2005.Google Scholar
Bonefeld, Werner. “Democracy and Dictatorship: Means and Ends of the State.” Critique 34, no. 3 (2006): 237–252.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boratav, Korkut, Kepenek, YakupTaymaz, ErolBali, TaylanCandan, M. Ali and Ertuğrul, N. liter “Kamu işletmeleri ve Özelleştirme Deneyimi: Sorunlar ve Politika Seçenekleri.” Toplum ve Bilim, no. 77 (1998): 100–133.Google Scholar
Boubakri, Narjess, Cosset, Jean-Claude and Guedhami, Omrane “Privatisation in Developing Countries: Performance and Ownership Effects.” Development Policy Review 26, no. 3 (2008): 275–308.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buchanan, James M.Liberty, Market and State, Political Economy in the 1980s. New York: New York University Press, 1985.Google Scholar
Celasun, Merih and Arslan, ismail “State-Owned Enterprises and Privatization in Turkey: Policy, Performance and Reform Experience, 1985–95.” In State-Owned Enterprises in the Middle East and North Africa: Privatization, Performance and Reform, edited by Celasun, Merih224–252. London: Routledge, 2001.Google Scholar
“Danıştay’dan TÜPRAŞ’ın Özelleştirilmesine Vize.” Milliyet, May 9, 2006.Google Scholar
“Danıştay: PETKİM’in Satışında Üstün Kamu Yararı Yok.” Milliyet.com.tr, January 12, 2008.Google Scholar
“Div-Han Madenleri ERDEMİR’in.” Milliyet, March 5, 2004.Google Scholar
“Değerli TL PETKİM‘e Yaramadı.” Milliyet, April 6, 2004.Google Scholar
Eagleton, Terry. Ideology: An Introduction. London: Verso, 1991.Google Scholar
“Ekonomide Yılın Olayları–ll.” Milliyet, December 17, 2008.Google Scholar
Ercan, Ersin, and Aydemir, Sertan “Kriz, ERDEMİR’I de Vurdu: 250 Işçi Çıkarılacak.” Milliyet, March 10, 2009.Google Scholar
Ercan, Metin R., and Öniş, Ziya “Turkish Privatization: Institutions and Dilemmas.” Turkish Studies 2, no. 1 (2001): 109–134.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ERDEMİR. “About Us: Our History.” http://en.ERDEMİR.com.tr.Google Scholar
ERDEMİR. “About Us: Our Profile.” http://en.ERDEMİR.com.tr.Google Scholar
“ERDEMİR’de Kaptan Köşkünü Bırakmayız.” Milliyet, March 4, 2006.Google Scholar
“ERDEMİR’in Yüzde 20’si Arcelor’un Olacak….” Milliyet, December 30, 2005.Google Scholar
“ERDEMİR Işçisinden Takvime Göre Eylem.” Milliyet, August 6, 2005.Google Scholar
“ERDEMİR Romanya’da Fabrika Satın Aldı.” Milliyet, August 23, 2001.Google Scholar
“ERDEMİR Savaşları.” Milliyet, August 23, 2005.Google Scholar
“ERDEMİR, Yabancı Görücüye Çıkıyor.” Milliyet, January 7, 2004.Google Scholar
“ERDEMİR’de Fiyat ve Blok Tartışması.” Milliyet, February 2, 2005.Google Scholar
“Fiyatı Tartışılıyor.” Milliyet, June 8, 2003.Google Scholar
Forgacs, David, ed. A Gramsci Reader Selected Writinp 1916–1935. London: Lawrence and Wishart, 2000.Google Scholar
Gill, Stephen. “Epistemology, Ontology and the Italian School.” In Gramsci, Historical Materialism and International Relations, edited by Gill, Stephen21–48. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
“Global Olmak için ERDEMİR’I Istiyoruz.” Milliyet, July 18, 2005.Google Scholar
Government of Turkey. “Letter of Intent and Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies.” April 26, 2005, http://www.imf.org/external/np/loi/2005/tur/042605.pdf.Google Scholar
Gramsci, Antonio. Selections from the Prison Notebooks. Translated by Hoare, Quintín and Nowell-Smith, Geoffrey Edited by Hoare, Quintín and Nowell-Smith, GeoffreyNew York: International Publishers, 1971.Google Scholar
Gurrla, Angel. Presentation of the OECD Economic Survey of Turkey, 2006 edition. Ankara: 2006, http://www.oecd.org/turkey/presentationoftheoecdeconomicsurveyofturkey2006edition.htm.Google Scholar
Gürek, Harun. “POAŞ’ta Yeni Skandal.” Akşam, October 18, 2002.Google Scholar
Güreli, Nail. “Ilhami Soysal’dan ERDEMİR’e.” Milliyet, June 29, 2005.Google Scholar
Hall, Stuart, Lumley, Bob and McLennan, Gregor “Politics and Ideology: Gramsci.” In On Ideology, edited by Center for Contemporary Cultural Studies, 45–76. London: Hutchinson University Library, 1977.Google Scholar
Harvey, David. “Neo-liberalism as Creative Destruction.” Geografiska Annaler. Series B, Human Geography 88, no. 2 (2006): 145–158.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
International Monetary Fund. Turkey: 2007 Article IV Consultation - Staff Report; Public Information Notice on the Executive Board Discussion; and Statement by the Executive Director for Turkey, IMF Country Report No. 07/362. Washington, DC: International Monetary Fund 2007.Google Scholar
“Ihalesi Yapılmış PETKİM’e Yabancıyı Çağırdı.” Milliyet, June 15, 2003.Google Scholar
ilknur, Miyase. “Telekom’da Türkiye By-pass Edildi.” Cumhuriyet, June 7, 2006.Google Scholar
“IŞDEMIR, ERDEMİR’e Bugün Devrediliyor.” Milliyet, February 1, 2002.Google Scholar
“IşteTÜPRAŞ’ta Satışı Durduran Dilekçe‖.” Milliyet, February 4, 2006.Google Scholar
Jain, Arvind K. “Corruption: A Review.” Journal of Economic Surveys 15, no. 1 (2001): 71–116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Karataş, Cevat, and Ercan, Metin “The Privatisation Experience in Turkey and Argentina: A Comparative Study, 1986–2007.” METU Studies in Development 35, no. 2 (2008): 345–384.Google Scholar
Kırlı, Cengiz. “Yolsuzluğun icadı: 1840 Ceza Kanunu, Iktidar ve Bürokrasi.” Tarih ve Toplum, no. 4 (2006): 45–119.Google Scholar
“Kilci: ERDEMİR’de Tarihi Fırsatı Yakaladık.” Milliyet, May 27, 2005.Google Scholar
“Kime Satılırsa Satılır Sana Ne! Maaşını Al Karışma….” Milliyet, August 10, 2005.Google Scholar
La Porta, Rafael, and Lopez-de-Silanes, FlorencioThe Benefits of Privatization: The Evidence from Mexico, Working Paper 6215. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 1997, http://www.nber.org/papers/w6215.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MacLeod, Dag. “Privatization and the Limits of State Autonomy in Mexico: Rethinking the Orthodox Paradox.” Latin American Perspectives 32, no. 4 (2005): 36–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morera, Esteve. Gramsci’s Historicism. London: Routledge, 1990.Google Scholar
Münir, Metin. “Oger Telecom Korunuyor Mu?” Milliyet, April 28, 2007.Google Scholar
Münir, Metin. “PETKİM’de Top Turcas ve Azerilerde.” Milliyet, October 18, 2007.Google Scholar
Münir, Metin. “Sahibi Belli Değil Şirketler Çemberinde PETKİM.” Milliyet, October 6, 2007.Google Scholar
“Oger Bulgar Telecomu Alıyor.” Telekomcular Derneği (2011), http://www.telekomculardernegi.org.tr/haber-2227-oger-bulgar-telecomu-aliyor.html.Google Scholar
“Oger Şartlara Uyarsa Türk Telekom’u Alır.” Milliyet, July 7, 2005.Google Scholar
“ÖYK, PETKİM’in satışını onayladı.” Milliyet, July 1, 2003.Google Scholar
“özelleştirmede Cezai Sorumluluk Kalkacak.” Milliyet, February 12, 2003.Google Scholar
Öniş, Ziya. “The Evolution of Privatization in Turkey: The Institutional Context of Public-Enterprise Reform.” International Journal of Middle East Studies 23, no. 2 (1991).Google Scholar
Öniş, Ziya. “Power, Interests and Coalitions: The Political Economy of Mass Privatization in Turkey.” Third World Quarterly 32, no. 4 (2011): 707–724.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Öztürk, Özgür. Türkiye’de Büyük Sermaye Grupları, Finans Kapitalin Oluşumu ve Gelişimi. İstanbul: Sosyal Araştırmalar Vakfı, 2010.Google Scholar
Patton, Marcie J. “Constraints to Privatization in Turkey.” In Privatization and Liberalization in the Middle East, edited by Harik, lliya and Sullivan, Denis J.106–122. Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1992.Google Scholar
“PETKİM’de ‘Yasaklı Şirket’ Tartışması.” Milliyet.com.tr, November 29, 2007.Google Scholar
“PETKİM’de Gönülden Geçen 1 Milyar Dolar.” Milliyet, June 11, 2003.Google Scholar
“PETKİM’e En Yüksek Fiyatı Uzanlar Verdi.” Milliyet, June 7, 2003.Google Scholar
“PETKİM’de Kazaklar Devre Dışı, Ihale Azeri - Türk Ortaklığında.” Milliyet, October 17, 2007.Google Scholar
“PETKİM’in Satışı 900 Milyon Doların Altında Yapılmamalı.” Milliyet, June 18, 2003.Google Scholar
“PETKİM Değerinin Çok Altında.” Milliyet, June 10, 2003.Google Scholar
“PETKİM’in Yeni Alıcısı Rafineri Kurmak istiyor.” Milliyet, October 18, 2007.Google Scholar
“PETKİM Ekim’de satışa çıkıyor.” Milliyet, September 25, 2002.Google Scholar
“PETKİM Satışına ÖYK’dan Onay.” Milliyet, November 23, 2007.Google Scholar
“PETKİM’de Ikinci Randevu.” Milliyet, November 6, 2004.Google Scholar
“PETKİM’de Müşterinin Ayağına Kadar Gittiler.” Milliyet, September 6, 2003.Google Scholar
Petrol-iş, Araştırma Servisi. Türkiye’de Rafinaj Sektörünün Tarihi ve TÜPRAŞ: Ilk Modern Tesis Batman’da Kuruldu Cumhuriyet Strateji, May 16, 2005.Google Scholar
Pulur, Hasan. “Kızımız Davulcuya, Zurnacıya Kaçmasın!” Milliyet, May 18, 2005.Google Scholar
Republic of Turkey Prime Ministry Privatization Administration. “Portfolio: PETKİM Petrokimya Holding A.S.” http://www.oib.gov.tr/portfoy/PETKİM/PETKİM_index_eng.htm.Google Scholar
Republic of Turkey Prime Ministry Privatization Administration. “Privatization Endeavor in Turkey.” T.C Başbakanlık Özelleştirme idaresi Başkanlığı, Basın ve Halkla ilişkiler Daire Başkanlığı, http://www.oib.gov.tr/yayinlar/publications.htm.Google Scholar
Republic of Turkey Prime Ministry Privatization Administration. “Privatization of Türk Telekom.” http://www.oib.gov.tr/telekom/turk_telekomunikasyon.htm.Google Scholar
Shirley, Mary M. “Bureaucrats in Business: The Roles of Privatization versus Corporatization in State-Owned Enterprise Reform.” World Development 27, no. 1 (1999): 115–136.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simga-Mugan, Can, and Yüce, Ayşe “Privatization in Emerging Markets.” Emerging Markets, Finance and Trade 39, no. 5 (2003): 83–110.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Şenerdem, Melis. Koç TÜPRAŞ Borcunu Azaltıp Yeni Projeleri Kovalayacak Fortune Türkiye, October 2007, 152.Google Scholar
T.C. Başbakanlık özelleştirme idaresi Başkanlığı. “Yayınlar.” http://www.oib.gov.tr/yayinlar/yayinlar.htm.Google Scholar
“Tamamı satılıyor.” Milliyet, May 30, 2003.Google Scholar
Tamer, Meral. “Hükümete PETKİM için Aferin.” Milliyet, July 2, 2003. “Tayyip’i Alana Unakıtan Bedava.” Milliyet, June 7, 2003.Google Scholar
Texier, Jackues. “Gramsci, Theoretician of the Superstructures.” In Gramsci and Marxist Theory, edited by Mouffe, Chaltal48–79. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1979.Google Scholar
Turkish Petroleum Corporation. “History of TPAO.” http://www.tpao.gov.tr.Google Scholar
Turkish Petroleum Refineries Corporation. “About TÜPRAŞ.” http://www.tupras.com.tr/detailpage.en.php?IDirectoryID=103.Google Scholar
“TÜPRAŞ’a Rus Firmalar Girerse, Biz de Gireriz.” Milliyet, May 1, 2003.Google Scholar
“TÜPRAŞ ihalesinde Düzgün Fiyat Oluştu.” Milliyet, January 25, 2004.Google Scholar
“TÜPRAŞ’a 1.3 Milyar Dolar.” Milliyet, January 14, 2004.Google Scholar
“TÜPRAŞ’ın Satışı iptal.” Milliyet, November 27, 2004.Google Scholar
Türel, Oktar. “Restructing the Public Sector in Post-1980 Turkey: An Assessment.” In The State and Global Change: The Political Economy of Transition in the Middle East and North Africa, edited by Hakimian, Hassan and Moshaver, Ziba178–208. Richmond: Curzon Press, 2001.Google Scholar
“Türkler Amele mi Olsun?.” Milliyet, August 17, 2005.Google Scholar
Türkmen, Ibrahim. “Türkiye 2005’te 18 Yıla Bedel Özelleştirme Yaptı.” Zaman, July 15, 2005.Google Scholar
“Unakitan: Büyüterek özelleştireceğiz.” Milliyet, February 8, 2005.Google Scholar
“Unakıtana Tataristan Sorusu.” Milliyet, January 16, 2004.Google Scholar
Uras, Güngör. “OYAK Yönetimi Bankayı ‘Mecburiyetten’ Sattı.” Milliyet, June 20, 2007.Google Scholar
Uras, Güngör. “PETKİM Kötü Değil, Iyi Bir KIT idi (Satın Alan Hayrını Görecek).” Milliyet, July 6, 2007.Google Scholar
Uzgel, Ilhan. “AKP: Neoliberal Dönüşümün Yeni Aktörü.” Mülkiye Dergisi 30, no. 252 (2006): 7–18.Google Scholar
“Üç Şirketten Birini Mutlaka Alacağız.” Milliyet, May 27, 2005.Google Scholar
“Ülke Menfaati Farklı Siyaset Farklı Iştir.” Milliyet, July 13, 2003.Google Scholar
Williams, Gwyn A. “The Concept of E‘gemonia’ in the Thought of Antonio Gramsci: Some Notes of Interpretation.” Journal of the History of Ideas 21, no. 4 (1960): 586–599.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
“Yabancı: Çılgın Fiyat Vermeyiz Yerli: ipi Biz Göğüsleriz.” Milliyet, October 4, 2005.Google Scholar
Yalman, Galip L.Transition to Neoliberalism: The Case of Turkey in the 1980s. İstanbul: İstanbul Bilgi University Press, 2009.Google Scholar
Yeldan, Erinç.Assessing the Privatization Experience in Turkey: Implementation, Politics and Performance Results, Report submitted to the Economic Policy Institute. Washington, DC: 2005.Google Scholar