Elif Uzgören
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Globalisation and class struggle between Turkish capital and labour during the 2000s reform process
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Chapter 3 examines the class struggle between Turkey’s capital and labour in the 2000s. Was there a pro–European hegemonic project in the 2000s and, if so, which social forces supported it? Was the pro-membership project hegemonic with capital groups able to lead society by presenting the project on a universal terrain in civil society? Could the labour movement come up with an alternative to the neoliberal pro-membership perspective? If not, how can we account for their failure? The book argues that internationally oriented capital promoted EU membership to stimulate competitiveness, whereas nationally oriented capital either adapted to globalisation by promoting national champions or gave their consent as they were already integrated with the global economy, mostly via outsourcing. The pro-membership project was hegemonic with capital groups able to present membership on a universal terrain with arguments transcending the economic-corporate phase in the hegemonic struggle. Turkey’s labour movement was split on the membership question and contested the pro-membership project through two rival-class strategies, namely Ha–vet (No–Yes) and ‘membership on equal terms and conditions’. Internationally oriented labour accepted globalisation as ‘irresistible’ and therefore advocated an international struggle. Thus, they defended the EU membership perspective under the motto, ‘Another globalisation and Europe is possible’, with a different rationale than capital groups. Nationally oriented labour was concerned with deindustrialisation caused by liberalisation through membership. Nevertheless, they supported membership on ‘equal terms and conditions’ so long as Turkey would benefit from the EU’s structural funds and European Social Model.

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