TURKISH APERTURA Part I

Recent economic crisis and the "25 January 1980"\nstabilization programme caused a wide - ranging controversy\non trade and industrialization strategies in\nTurkey. This article introduces the main issues of this\ndebate. A brief survey classifies the explanations of\nrecent crisis into three broad groups: "capitalist\ndependence", "international conspiracy" and "import\nsubstitution". A review of the traditional strategy\nof import substitution in Turkey is provided to assess\nthe conditions leading to apertura. Sources of opposition\nto apertura are identified as nationalism, export\npessimism, equity considerations and "revolutionary"\nstrategy. First argument against apertura, that it\n"increases country's economic dependence" is presented\nand its internal consistency questioned. Part I\nends with the conclusion that an outward - looking\nstrategy is the only way to lead to economic independence.\n(Other arguments, viz. that apertura "destroys\nthe chances of real industrialization" and that it\n"leads to a more unequal distribution of income and\ntherefore requires political repression" are treated in\nPart II.)