AKP’s Local Politics: Perceived Discrimination as an Obstacle to Ethnic Mobilization Cover Image

Ak Partinin Yerel Düzeyde Siyaseti: Ayrimcilik Algisinin Etnik Mobilizasyona Etkisi
AKP’s Local Politics: Perceived Discrimination as an Obstacle to Ethnic Mobilization

Author(s): Gül Arıkan Akdağ
Subject(s): Electoral systems, Politics and society, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Ethnic Minorities Studies, Sociology of Politics
Published by: Rasim Özgür DÖNMEZ
Keywords: Political parties; Ethnic mobilization; Ethnic solidarity; Elite incorporation; Political network; Local politics; Local organizations; Electoral strategy; AKP; Kurdish problem;

Summary/Abstract: This paper will be an attempt to explain changes in ethnic votes by focusing at local political activities of political parties and relating them to theories of ethnic solidarity. It will try to demonstrate how perceived discrimination and intergroup polarization affect the ability of the AKP to form permanent channels of communication among citizens of Kurdish origin, making their incorporation in the political network of the party more difficult. Within this respect, the study will mainly analyze whether AKP’s local organization characteristics and activities changes across districts that are different in terms of the discrimination the Kurdish citizens faces. To test the hypothesis, field research has been effectuated in major neighborhoods of Beyoğlu and Sancaktepe which diverges in terms of perceived discrimination indicators among residents of Kurdish origin.

  • Issue Year: 4/2012
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 147-179
  • Page Count: 33
  • Language: Turkish