From Washington consensus to Beijing consensus: Analyzing Turkey's Industrial Policy

Absztrakt (kivonat)

This master's thesis analyzes the evolution of Turkey's industrial policy in the 21st century, specifically examining changes within the frameworks of the Washington Consensus and the Beijing Consensus paradigms. Motivated by the observation that empirical investigation into the sectoral impacts of Turkey's policy changes is underdeveloped, the study seeks to understand the tangible effects on the structure and performance of the Turkish economy, focusing on key strategic sectors. The central research question is: “How has Turkey's industrial policy evolved in the 21st century, particularly in the framework of Washington Consensus and the Beijing Consensus principles with a special focus to the effects of this evolution on the development and performance of key strategic sectors?”. Employing a mixed-methods research design, specifically a convergent parallel approach, the study integrates qualitative analysis of policy documents and literature with quantitative analysis of sectoral data sources from national statistics, international databases, government publications, and academic research. Findings indicate that while Turkey’s adoption of policies aligned with the Washington Consensus began in 1980s, these policies reinforced after the 2001 economic crisis. However, in the following decade, a pattern occurred that reflects increasing characteristics of the Beijing Consensus, marked by increased state intervention, strategic state ownership, and targeted policies aimed at national economic sovereignty and strategic sector development. The findings suggest that Turkey's policy has moved toward a hybrid model that blends market-oriented reforms with elements of state-led development. Rather than representing a full paradigm shift, this trajectory reflects an adaptive policy shaped by both domestic priorities and global economic transformations, showing us how emerging economic like Turkey actively adapt and innovate development strategic rather than simply adopting the externals models as a package.