Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
This study investigates the relationship between individual-based relative deprivation and political party in Turkey. Findings reveal that individuals feel most deprived when comparing themselves to supporters of the Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi: AKP), due to that party’s greater access to resources through extensive clientelist and patronage networks. This was followed by comparisons made with supporters of the Nationalist Movement Party (Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi: MHP), Republican People’s Party (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi: CHP), İYİ (Good Party), and Peoples’ Democratic Party (Halkların Demokrat Partisi: HDP). Deprivation is most strongly perceived in economic, social and political domains, highlighting the multidimensional nature of exclusion. While clientelism is often associated with the ruling party, the study shows that opposition parties also engage in such practices when they control resources. These findings suggest that clientelism is a structural feature of Turkish politics, contributing to political polarisation, weakening accountability and accelerating democratic backsliding. The study’s main contribution lies in its demonstration that clientelist relations are long term and widespread, shaping both perceptions of deprivation and democratic decline. Future research should further explore the mechanisms linking clientelism to political behaviour and institutional change.
Hasan YENİÇIRAK (Mon,) studied this question.