Introduction

The exact role of experts in policy analysis is an under-investigated area in Turkey, because there has been a limited use of policy analysis techniques in policymaking and implementation. Although experts do play a certain role in giving policy advice to policy-makers, it is rather challenging to generalise the patterns of policy advice in Turkey. The character of expert involvement varies according to the policy area under investigation and also differs from case to case. Instead of making a general analysis, focusing on a complex policy area like environmental policy, in which experts play a pivotal role due to the complexity of the problems, may shed some light on the role of experts in the policy process in Turkey.

Drawing from previous research on environmental policy disputes, this chapter aims to investigate uses of policy analysis techniques and the role of experts in the environmental policy process. Top-down, centrally imposed developmental projects rely heavily on developmentalist discourses. Certain experts advocate these projects as indisputable elements of a country's development trajectory as well as solutions to various problems, such as energy supply and balance of payments problems. However, there is substantial opposition to these projects on the basis of their negative social, economic and environmental consequences. Although authorities snub opposition claims on the basis of ignorance (or for being ideological), the only dilemma about expertise in environmental policy is not the one between the experts and (lay)people. Different groups of experts inform both policy-makers and other groups that challenge the official policy process in highly contested environmental policy disputes in Turkey. There are competing discourse coalitions that draw from experts from a variety of levels (either individual or corporate) with potentially different values and interests, perceptions of the situation and policy preferences, and there is an ongoing struggle to determine policy outcomes. This chapter aims to identify the role of experts and the way they use their expertise in articulating certain policy positions and support interests advocated in their respective discourse coalitions. If problems and solutions are socially constructed, and deeply held values on issues influence the rest of the process, including experts, the impartiality of experts should be open to scrutiny and discussion for a more transparent policy process.