EVALUATION OF THE 1950 TURKISH GENERAL ELECTIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF SEAT MAXIMIZATION APPROACH
EVALUATION OF THE 1950 TURKISH GENERAL ELECTIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF SEAT MAXIMIZATION APPROACH

Summary/Abstract: The 1950 elections in Turkey are of significant importance as they represent the first election in which the government changed hands through a democratic process. This study examines the 1950 elections in the context of the seat maximization approach. The study analyzes the decision taken by the ruling party at the time, the Republican People's Party (CHP), regarding the current electoral system, and the situation that arose as a result of the expectations related to this decision. The central argument of this study is that the decisions made by ruling parties to change or maintain the electoral system are shaped by the expectation of increasing their own representation. The study highlights the main issue that decisions taken by ruling parties within the framework of seat maximization may not always correspond with the resulting outcomes. In this study, the seat maximization approach is first introduced, followed by an analysis of the political and social structure of the period. Finally, the demands of political parties regarding the electoral system and the resulting outcomes are evaluated.

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