Change in the perception of ideological identity in political parties: The case of the AK Party

Political parties experience processes of change and transformation due to the dynamic nature of ideological identity. In the thesis, based on the example of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), it is assumed that the dynamic nature of ideological identity is important in the change and transformation of political parties. Using the example of the AK Party, the changes and transformations in the ideological identities that dominate political parties are presented on the basis of continuities, ruptures and representation. The aim of the study is to determine the sources of the ideological change and transformation experienced in the AK Party, to reveal its reflection on the basis of representation and to determine the place of the transformation experienced on the ideological ground. The study was designed as both qualitative and quantitative research. In the qualitative research method, it is aimed to obtain detailed information about the research topic by analyzing the research questions in depth. The changes evaluated by the scanning method were evaluated by the document analysis method, specifically on the party programs and statutes of the Justice and Development Party, which was taken as a sample. 781 samples participated in the survey conducted online. Explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses, as well as structural validity and reliability analyzes were conducted on the first and second half samples. In the light of the findings, during the uninterrupted rule of the AK Party; It has been revealed that the change in political discourse and policies, which started with conservative democracy and came to the line of "one homeland, one flag, one state, one nation", is an ideological change and transformation.