The role of political alienation in voter behavior: The case of Konya in the 2024 local elections in Turkey

The aim of this study is to examine voter political participation within the context of political alienation. The main research question of this study is expressed as follows: Is there a significant difference between voters' levels of political participation and their levels of political alienation? A relational survey model was employed in this research. The sample of the study consists of voters who were eligible to vote in the 2024 Turkish local elections, aged 18 and above, and residing in the central districts of Konya province—Selçuklu, Meram, and Karatay. Based on the defined population, the Proportional Sampling Method was used to determine the sample size. Accordingly, a survey was conducted with 410 voters using the convenience sampling method, which is one of the non-random sampling techniques. The data collection instruments included the "Political Participation Scale" and the "Political Alienation Scale." The data were analyzed using One-Way ANOVA, Correlation, and Regression analyses. The findings revealed that voters' levels of political participation were low, while their perceptions of political alienation remained at an indecisive level. Voters tend to refrain from participation forms such as expressing opinions, attending rallies, and engaging in demonstrations, restricting their political engagement mostly to voting activities. Regarding the sub-dimensions of the Political Alienation Scale, participants did not display a clear attitude, and their feelings varied depending on circumstances. Confirmatory factor analyses and reliability tests indicated that both scales were valid and reliable for the research sample.