A comparative analysis of the hegemony struggles during the Democratic Party and Motherland Party governments in Turkey

This thesis aims to examine the Democrat Party (1950–1960) and the Motherland Party (1983–1991) governments in Türkiye primarily within the framework of Antonio Gramsci’s theory of hegemony, while drawing on Louis Althusser’s theory of Ideological State Apparatuses (ISAs) as a complementary theoretical perspective. The primary objective of the study is to analyze how political authority constructs hegemony not only through economic and political mechanisms but also by generating social consent through ideological apparatuses such as education, religion, the media, and culture. Within this framework, the Democratic Party period is interpreted as a liberal hegemonic order shaped by traditional norms and values, the principle of national will, and democratization. In contrast, the Motherland Party period is evaluated as a neoliberal hegemonic order structured around individualization, the market economy, consumer culture, and media-oriented discourses. The comparative analysis demonstrates that during the Democratic Party era, consent was predominantly constructed through democratic participation, a shared national identity, and cultural values, whereas during the Motherland Party period it was reconstructed through market integration, individual performance, and consumer culture. This transformation reflects the transition from a liberal hegemonic order to a neoliberal hegemonic order in Turkey.