Abstract

Throughout history, the concept of democracy has been discussed not only as a form of government but also as a guarantee of political legitimacy, freedoms, and the rule of law. The limitation of power, the active participation of citizens in governance, and the accountability of public authority are among the fundamental principles of democracy. In this sense, democracy has evolved continuously from the direct participation models of Ancient Greece to today’s representative democracies, reshaped in each period by social conditions, economic structures, and political cultures. Today, the democratic order goes beyond the understanding of majority rule limited to elections and gains meaning through institutional balance, accountability, and transparency. Democracy has historically been shaped as a system in which power is constrained and legitimacy is derived from popular participation. While direct democracy in Ancient Greece eventually evolved into representative democracy, this study examines the historical development of the concept of democracy and its reflections in Turkey, particularly within the framework of the Presidential Government System adopted in 2017. By analyzing the budget process, the effectiveness of parliament, the use of public resources, and the principles of accountability, the study reveals the aspects of power concentration that conflict with democracy. Consequently, the system established after 2017 is evaluated through the metaphor of the “Turkish-Style Carp Spiral.” The article emphasizes the importance of limiting mechanisms for strengthening democratic principles. The adoption of the Presidential Government System in Turkey represents not merely a constitutional amendment but also a profound transformation in terms of power distribution, oversight mechanisms, and the balance of political representation. The centralization of the executive, the restriction of parliamentary oversight, and the monopolization in managing public resources have generated a controversial structure regarding democratic accountability. In this context, the metaphor “Turkish-Style Carp Spiral” symbolizes the cyclical problems produced within the system itself, the structural deadlocks nourished by lack of oversight, and its tense relationship with democracy. Through this metaphor, the study questions the extent to which a governance model centered on executive authority is compatible with democracy, arguing that institutional balance and control mechanisms must be reinforced to ensure democratic stability.