ABSTRACT

This chapter analyzes the political economy of coal plants and mining in Turkey by exploring the impact of contextual factors and key political and social actors on coal investment decisions and trends. We argue that Turkey’s ongoing dependence on coal is significantly shaped by political considerations focused on maintaining the legitimacy of the current regime. These considerations currently outweigh concerns about financial viability and climate and health considerations. To elaborate on these political and economic dynamics, we analyze the views of diverse stakeholders on the apparent conflation between ‘direct’ objectives, as articulated by the current government (maintaining and strengthening national security) and underlying objectives (maintaining the legitimacy of the current regime). We analyze this conflation further by exploring ways in which the goals of ensuring a favorable operating environment for business incumbents, maximizing job security for blue-collar workers and minimizing public resistance to the social and environmental impacts of coal tend to outweigh considerations in relation to the viability and profitability of coal investments.