AN EVALUATION ON THE NOVEMBER 7, 1982 CONSTITUTION REFERENDUM: PLEBISCITE OR REFERENDUM?

Murat Soysal

Article Details

AN EVALUATION ON THE NOVEMBER 7, 1982 CONSTITUTION REFERENDUM: PLEBISCITE OR REFERENDUM?

Authors:

Murat Soysal

Publisher:

Dokuz Eylul University

Journal:

Çağdaş Türkiye Tarihi Araştırmaları Dergisi Vol.22 Issue 45, pp.977-1005

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001282852

pISSN:

1300-0756

Keywords:

Abstract:

 One of the main factors that distinguish contemporary democracies from authoritarian regimes is that they give a chance to participate involved in the decisionmaking process through democratic means, provided that a free and attentive environment is provided. Referendum is one of the semi-direct democratic tools through which citizens can express their will on constitutional or political issues. After the military intervention of September 12, 1980, the new Constitution, prepared by the Constituent Assembly, in which the National Security Council took place, was presented to the public on November 7, 1982, with the consolidation of the presidential election. In the vote, the Constitution received 91.37 percent of the affirmative vote from citizens. The adoption of the Constitution, which was submitted for public approval, was the first important step in the return of civilian political life. Kenan Evren, the Chairman of the National Security Council, who was nominated as the only candidate due to the 1982 Constitutional vote and the Presendital election, was directly elected President. This study focuses on the developments in the 1982 Constitution referendum process. In this study, the political stance and prohibitions of the National Security Council, the new constitution propagandas of Kenan Evren in the forbidden atmosphere, the criticism of the Constitution, and the criticisms of the public about the Constitution and the President of Republic elections being put to vote in a single ballot box were examined. The study also included discussions and determinations about whether a ballot referendum or a plebiscite. The conclusion obtained after this study is that the 1982 referendum turned into an unopposed and unrivaled plebiscite that was removed from its purpose and enabled the military regime to achieve the desired result. With this study, it has tried to contribute to the literature by examining the propaganda made during the referendum process of the 1982 Constitution, which caused radical changes in terms of Turkeys political culture and state organization, and the practices that caused the voting to be interpreted as a plebiscite instead of a referendum.

 One of the main factors that distinguish contemporary democracies from authoritarian regimes is that they give a chance to participate involved in the decisionmaking process through democratic means, provided that a free and attentive environment is provided. Referendum is one of the semi-direct democratic tools through which citizens can express their will on constitutional or political issues. After the military intervention of September 12, 1980, the new Constitution, prepared by the Constituent Assembly, in which the National Security Council took place, was presented to the public on November 7, 1982, with the consolidation of the presidential election. In the vote, the Constitution received 91.37 percent of the affirmative vote from citizens. The adoption of the Constitution, which was submitted for public approval, was the first important step in the return of civilian political life. Kenan Evren, the Chairman of the National Security Council, who was nominated as the only candidate due to the 1982 Constitutional vote and the Presendital election, was directly elected President. This study focuses on the developments in the 1982 Constitution referendum process. In this study, the political stance and prohibitions of the National Security Council, the new constitution propagandas of Kenan Evren in the forbidden atmosphere, the criticism of the Constitution, and the criticisms of the public about the Constitution and the President of Republic elections being put to vote in a single ballot box were examined. The study also included discussions and determinations about whether a ballot referendum or a plebiscite. The conclusion obtained after this study is that the 1982 referendum turned into an unopposed and unrivaled plebiscite that was removed from its purpose and enabled the military regime to achieve the desired result. With this study, it has tried to contribute to the literature by examining the propaganda made during the referendum process of the 1982 Constitution, which caused radical changes in terms of Turkeys political culture and state organization, and the practices that caused the voting to be interpreted as a plebiscite instead of a referendum.

 One of the main factors that distinguish contemporary democracies from authoritarian regimes is that they give a chance to participate involved in the decisionmaking process through democratic means, provided that a free and attentive environment is provided. Referendum is one of the semi-direct democratic tools through which citizens can express their will on constitutional or political issues. After the military intervention of September 12, 1980, the new Constitution, prepared by the Constituent Assembly, in which the National Security Council took place, was presented to the public on November 7, 1982, with the consolidation of the presidential election. In the vote, the Constitution received 91.37 percent of the affirmative vote from citizens. The adoption of the Constitution, which was submitted for public approval, was the first important step in the return of civilian political life. Kenan Evren, the Chairman of the National Security Council, who was nominated as the only candidate due to the 1982 Constitutional vote and the Presendital election, was directly elected President. This study focuses on the developments in the 1982 Constitution referendum process. In this study, the political stance and prohibitions of the National Security Council, the new constitution propagandas of Kenan Evren in the forbidden atmosphere, the criticism of the Constitution, and the criticisms of the public about the Constitution and the President of Republic elections being put to vote in a single ballot box were examined. The study also included discussions and determinations about whether a ballot referendum or a plebiscite. The conclusion obtained after this study is that the 1982 referendum turned into an unopposed and unrivaled plebiscite that was removed from its purpose and enabled the military regime to achieve the desired result. With this study, it has tried to contribute to the literature by examining the propaganda made during the referendum process of the 1982 Constitution, which caused radical changes in terms of Turkeys political culture and state organization, and the practices that caused the voting to be interpreted as a plebiscite instead of a referendum.

 Çağdaş demokrasileri, otoriter rejimlerden ayıran temel unsurlardan biri, serbest ve özenli bir ortam sağlandığı takdirde demokratik araçlar yoluyla karar alma süreçlerine katılıma imkân sağlamasıdır. Halkoylaması referandum ise vatandaşların, anayasa veya siyasi meselelerle ilgili iradesini ortaya koyabildiği yarı doğrudan demokrasi araçlarından biridir. 12 Eylül 1980 askeri müdahalesini takiben Milli Güvenlik Konseyinin yer aldığı Kurucu Meclis tarafından hazırlanan yeni Anayasa, Cumhurbaşkanlığı seçimiyle birleştirilerek 7 Kasım 1982 tarihinde halkoyuna sunulmuştur. Oylamada Anayasa, yüzde 91.37 oranında kabul oyu almıştır. Halkın onayına sunulan Anayasanın kabul edilmesi, sivil siyaset hayatına dönüşün ilk önemli adımı olmuştur. 1982 Anayasa oylamasının Cumhurbaşkanlığı seçimiyle birleştirilmesinden ötürü, tek aday olarak gösterilen Milli Güvenlik Konseyi Başkanı Orgeneral Kenan Evren de doğrudan Cumhurbaşkanı seçilmiştir. Bu çalışmada 1982 Anayasa halkoylaması sürecinde yaşanan gelişmelere odaklanılmıştır. Çalışmada halkoylaması sürecinde Milli Güvenlik Konseyinin politik tutumu ve getirdiği yasaklar, yasak ortamında Kenan Evrenin Anayasa tanıtım propagandaları, kamuoyunun Anayasanın ve Cumhurbaşkanlığı seçiminin tek sandıkta oylamaya sunulmasına dair eleştirileri incelenmiştir. Çalışmada ayrıca halkoylamasının, referandum mu yoksa plebisit mi olduğuna dair yapılan tartışmalara ve tespitlere yer verilmiştir. Bu çalışma sonrasında elde edilen sonuç, 1982 halkoylamasının, amacından uzaklaştırılarak askeri rejimin istediği sonuca ulaşılmasını sağlayan, muhalefetsiz ve rakipsiz bir plebisit uygulamasına dönüştüğü yönündedir. Genel anlamda bu çalışmada Türkiyenin siyasal kültürü ve devlet organizasyonu açısından köklü değişimlere yol açan 1982 Anayasasının halkoylaması sürecinde yapılan propagandalar ve oylamanın referandum yerine plebisit olarak yorumlanmasına neden olan uygulamalar irdelenerek literatüre katkı sağlanmaya çalışılmıştır.

Article Details

AN EVALUATION ON THE NOVEMBER 7, 1982 CONSTITUTION REFERENDUM: PLEBISCITE OR REFERENDUM?

Authors:

Murat Soysal

Publisher:

Dokuz Eylul University

Journal:

Çağdaş Türkiye Tarihi Araştırmaları Dergisi Vol.22 Issue 45, pp.977-1005

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001282852

pISSN:

1300-0756

Kenan Evren

Democracy

Referendum

National Security Council

Plebiscite

Political participation

1982 Constitution

Demokrasi

Halkoylaması

Kenan Evren

Milli Güvenlik Konseyi

Plebisit

Siyasal Katılım

1982 Anayasası

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Murat Soysal

Publisher: Dokuz Eylul University

Journal: Çağdaş Türkiye Tarihi Araştırmaları Dergisi Vol.22 Issue 45, pp.977-1005

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 1/2023

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001282852

pISSN: 1300-0756

Issues

Authors:

Murat Soysal

Publisher:

Dokuz Eylul University

Journal:

Çağdaş Türkiye Tarihi Araştırmaları Dergisi Vol.22 Issue 45, pp.977-1005

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001282852

pISSN:

1300-0756