Municipal council memberships in the participation of young people in local administrations: Example of Aegean region

In civilizations where democracy exists, the participation of citizens in the management process is the main element of the system. While participation provides an important benefit in ensuring the continuity of public administration and solving the problems encountered, on the other hand, it strengthens the transparency and efficiency factors for democracy. Local governments have the greatest responsibility in the formation and development of democracy on a local scale. In terms of local governments, municipal councils, which are made up of citizens and elected, are the structures where participation and local democracy are represented in the most transparent sense. Today, municipal councils, which are an important argument of participation in local governments, have become a structure where young people can take part, although they are spreading to a wider base in terms of inclusiveness. Although there are different institutions and formations created to enable young people to influence and participate in decision-making mechanisms in local governments, with the constitutional amendment within the scope of the 2017 referendum, the municipal council membership mechanism has been included in these. With the 2019 Local Administration Elections, for the first time, the 25- year-old age requirement was extended to 18 years, as in the general elections. The representation of young people in local administrations has increased with the membership of municipal councils, which is an important innovation in terms of young people having a say in the administration and ensuring democratic participation. With this study, a general evaluation of the youth in the municipal council, which has an important place in the participation and development of representation in local governments for young people, has been made. In this thesis study, local governments, local politics, the phenomenon of democracy, the phenomenon of youth, the characteristics of youth, the phenomenon of political participation were examined together and the subject of municipal council memberships in the participation of young people in local governments was evaluated. First of all, local governments were included, the effects of the youth period and the role of these effects in political participation were emphasized. In the other part, the phenomenon of participation in local governments is explained and tried to be reinforced with the concept of youth. On the basis of the research, "What is the effect of municipal council memberships on the participation of young people in local governments?" question is included. Finally, interviews were conducted with young municipal councilors in the provinces of İzmir, Denizli, Afyonkarahisar, Manisa, Uşak, Muğla, Kütahya and Aydın, who were between the ages of 18-30 and were working in the Aegean region as of the date of their election in the 2019 Local Administration Elections. As a result of the negotiations, municipal council memberships are an important mechanism that takes place directly in the decision-making processes of local governments and encourages the active participation of young people in political processes. Municipal councilors generally determine policies and programs in local governments, make decisions and manage budgets. Young people's interest in being a member of the municipal council and their candidacy for these positions increases the representation of young people in local governments and ensures a greater focus on the needs of young people. In this context, in-depth interviews were conducted with 25 young municipal council members. As a result of the interviews, it has been determined that young people's interest in being a member of the municipal council encourages more participation of young people in political processes and enables them to take part in local decision-making processes more effectively. Municipal councils, which is one of the closest methods of democratic participation to the public, have started to become a more accessible participation mechanism for young people by lowering the voting age to 18. Thus, it has been revealed that young people have the opportunity to take part in the local politics, as well as as elected officials who influence the decision mechanisms.