Partili Olmak: Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi’nde Genç Üyelerin Siyasal Toplumsallaşma Süreçleri
Being Partyist: Political Socialization Processes of Young Members in the Republican People's Party

Summary/Abstract: The literature on political parties mainly focus on the historical roots, ideological foundations, electoral performances and social basis of the parties. Works on “the party as an organization” are extremely rare. Generally those studies of party organization aim to analyze the power relations between the central party office, the parliamentarian group of the party and the local branches. However, beyond their ideological and social aspects, political parties are organizations. They are hierarchical organizations that operate according to formal rules. In addition to that, informal relations are also very important to comprehend the functioning of political parties. The main purpose of this research, which concentrates on the youth organization of the Republican People’s Party’s local branch in Besiktas, is to understand the socialization process in the party and the role of the organizational structure in this process. The data used in this work are collected from in-depth interviews made with young members, young party executives and also local party executives. Youth organization of a party is a place where young members adopt the written and unwritten rules, norms and values of the party. They enter into or form new networks to become an essential member of the party. In this context, the article analyzes the political socialization of young RPP members; the formal and informal processes that are crucial in the formation of the party identity; and how the RPP imposes its common values, norms and goals to its new members.

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