ESKİ TÜRK DEVLETLERİNDE SİYASAL İKTİDARIN MEŞRUİYET KAYNAĞI OLARAK “KUT” ANLAYIŞI VE SINIRLARI
“KUT” CONCEPT AND ITS LIMITS IN FORMER TURKISH STATES AS A SOURCE OF LEGITIMACY FOR POLITICAL POWER

Summary/Abstract: This study assesses the “kut” concept of Former Turkish States, which shows the source and limits of the political power, based on the “legitimacy”. Supported by the divine source, “kut” could be retrieved by means of “kut’un sönmesi” [extinction of kut] unless the requirements of the power are satisfied. Therefore, the political power in Former Turkish States is not unlimited but it is a “limited power” due to the factors such as justice, social services, morals, merit, and conformity with God’s will which all limit the power and scope of the government. The main factor which shapes the former Turkish state and sovereignty approach is the presence of the governors, who are aware of their responsibility against the public; in other words the primary thing in determining the policy of the state against the public is the fact of “state exists for public”. In this framework, institutions like “consultancy institution”, which establish a kind of balance of powers, ensure a structure beyond the age with regards to participation into the management. It is, therefore, important to know this historical heritage during which the targets challenged to be realized by the modern democracies even today were established by Turkish States hundreds of years ago.

• Details
• Contents