Sociological analysis of contemporary Turkish political elites

This study was designed to find general characteristics of Contemporary Turkish political Elites since 1995 up to date. Social background characteristics were employed to realise the purposes. Documentary and historical research techniques were used during the study. As a result of examining the Contemporary Turkish political elites (since 1995 up to 2005) these major findings were discovered: the large majority of the Turkish parliamentary elites were well educated, male, middle aged, married and with a small family size. Also, more than 25 percent of Turkish Elites are trader and businessmen. Moreover the size of the groups of lawyers, civil bureaucrats and managers, educators and free professions was also meaningful. Contemporary Turkish political elites have exhibited an elitist character as compared with Turkish society, but this elitist character and male domination has begun to change in recent years. Keywords: Democracy, Elite, Elite Theory, Power, Turkish Elites, Turkish Political Elites, Contemporary Turkish Political Elites