Abstract:

Different usage of the concept of public sphere and of the related terms is analyzed in the context of the decisions of Turkish Constitutional Court in the article. We deal with the position of the concept of public sphere and related terms in historical development process of the modern state in order to have a general framework for the issue. At this sequence,the main point of departure is Habermas' theoretical framework by which he analyzes "public sphere" as a category of capitalist society, and describes it as a level between state and society. Habermas, who considers the relation of society with state, becomes main point of reference to analyze the development of public sphere in Turkey as well as in the related decisions of Turkish Constitutional Court. Although the issues of the decisions are varied from each other it could be concluded that "being public" is not only described in relation to the state as a public authority, but also identified with the state, rather than being a quality of autonomous public sphere in these decisions.

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