Democracy and good governance in Turkey: Europeanization as a gateway

Abstract

The case of the Turkish ombudsman points to the paradox that the reform was adopted in spite of both weak EU conditional pressures and strong opposition from domestic veto players. It also reveals the multiplicity of domestic arguments and debates about the European and non-European origins of ombudsmanship and diverse motivations behind its adoption. Finally, we should look at what happens after the adoption of a reform. In this context, it is crucial to investigate the logics and dynamics underlying the domestic responses towards the EU conditionality of ombudsmanship in Turkey. What are the main arguments put forward by the supporters and opponents of a Turkish ombudsman? Why did Turkey establish a national ombudsman? Are the domestic accounts of ombudsmanship driven by instrumental reasoning advocated by strategic Europeanization or do they follow the logic of appropriateness in line with the thesis of normative Europeanization?