The perception about political participation of young people who are active in youth organizations of political parties in Turkey

Political participation emerges in the form of a concept that affecting life of society day by day both as an indispensable component of the democratic government systems and as a way to mobilize the voluntary expression of individuals existence in political and social sense, in globalizing world. This concept performed by the various segments of society in different ways and includes not only an activity of electoral process but also the participation and affection of individuals by decision-taking and action in political and social realities in society. A passive trend have been observed in participation of political decision-making process of the youth in Turkey. Especially they have been against the conventional forms of political organization. It is examined the reasons that encourages young people who are active in youth organizations and perception of own political participation in this emboidment. In this study the political participation of youth who is an important segment of society are discussed in the organized basis. Various studies suggest that youth participation in politics is very low rates in conventional for of participation in Turkey. The main purpose of study is to reveal organized young people's perceptions of political participation by perception of themselves, experiences, social realities and other factors. This study was designed as a qualitative survey. Fifteen young people who involved mainstream parties in Turkey the AKP, CHP and MHP (Grey Wolves) 's youth wing, and the organizations formed the study group. Depth interviews were conducted with this group in 2012 at headquarters of organizations in Ankara. The data obtained from depth interviews were interpreted or subjected to content analysis. In this process questions were identified as umbrella categories and responses have created sub-categories. Analysis has emerged as a result of four main categories. These are conceptual perceptions of political participation, perceptions about organization, perceptions about social and political events in Turkey and perceptions on youth and politics. When the obtained data were interpreted by categorizing, it has emerged organized young people's perceptions about fundamental concept of political participation include not only conventional forms of political participation but also all kinds of social and political affecting activities in broad terms. Besides youth's organizational existence is seen to be based on ideological emotional and behavioral basis, taking part in the organization realized with a sense of political efficacy which is a determinant factor of political motivation and even the possibility of not being organized, they orient themselves to this motivation. Organized youth have a critical and realistic attitude about Turkey's political structure and problems and they stated that young people are not an active position in Turkey's political structure. Despite this, they emphasized the importance of the organization to struggle. As an important finding for young people to participate in politics by conventional means, also organized young people participating in politics with non-conventional way and there are no difference between unorganized youth in this sense. Organized young people in political parties agree with that being a member of a political party creates a wider domain. Keywords: Youth, Youth Wing, Conventional Political Participation.