Politikon: The IAPSS Journal of Political Science

Özge Korkmaz Şahbaz delves into the complex landscape of constitutional reform in Turkey. The study investigates the underlying reasons behind the last constitutional reform, emphasizing the transformation of the presidency, the weakening of military tutelage, the mobilization power of Erdogan, and the impact of the failed coup attempt in 2016. Employing the method of causal process tracing, this research offers valuable insights into the historical and political context surrounding institutional change in Turkey.

Donovan van der Haak takes on the topic of epistocracy and its compatibility with different meta-ethical frameworks. Focusing on Jason Brennan's argument for epistocracy, van der Haak questions the extent to which this argument withstands challenges posed by meta-ethical moral relativism. The central research question revolves around the repercussions of moral relativism on Brennan's use of the competence principle in advocating for epistocracy over democracy. The paper ultimately argues that democracy aligns more closely with Brennan's principles, as epistocracy's reliance on experts may hinder the collection of sufficient information about moral facts from the right voting population.