Analysis of the 1961 Constitution in the Pendulum of Democracy and Guardianshyp in Turkey

Abstract

The 1961 Constitution of Turkey, established after the 1960 military coup, represents a pivotal moment in the country’s political history, oscillating between democracy and tutelage. While it expanded fundamental rights, stren-gthened judicial independence, and introduced the concept of a social state, it simultaneously institutionalised military and bureaucratic oversight through mechanisms such as the Senate of the Republic and the National Security Council. This study systematically analyses the 1961 Constitution’s dual structure using the PRISMA method for literature review, and AMOS 22 for content analysis of expert opinions from YouTube videos. Findings indicate that the constitution fostered pluralistic democracy while reinforcing military influence, limiting civil authority. The research highlights how the balance between democracy and tutelage shaped Turkish governance, and argues for strengthening democratic institutions to eliminate residual tutelary structures. © 2025, Institute for Public Administration, Croatian and Comparative Public Administration. All rights reserved.