Political parties and clientelism: The case of Turkey 1923-

The aim of this research is to examine clientelism in political parties in Turkey. In this context, this research examines the examples of clientelism in political parties that were in power alone or as a coalition partner between 1923-2002. This study is a qualitative research with scanning method. In the study, it was aimed to obtain descriptive results based on literature. The research sample consists of political parties that have come to power in Turkey since its foundation. The activities of the political parties that are the subject of the study, which are described as clientelism, were examined by taking into account the chronological order of the powers in Turkey. When classifying the political parties' coming to power in chronological order, it was deemed appropriate to be treated as follows. In the ranking, political parties that have been ruling alone were examined periodically, while coalition periods were examined as year intervals or coalition periods, not over parties. In this context, the findings of the research were examined under the following headings: clientelism in the 1923-1950 single party period, clientelism in the 1950-1960 Democratic Party period, clientelism in the 1960s and 1970s, clientelism in the 1983-1992 Fatherland party (ANAP) period, clientelism in the 1992-2002 coalition periods. As a result of the study, it was found that although clientelism was evident from the first years of the establishment of the State, clientelism in the 1950's rises more, single party or as a coalition political parties in power are likely to ensure the loyalty of the voters through clientelism and political favoritism becomes visible in the press and through various studies. Although political parties seem to oppose clientelism as a discourse, when they come to power, they have been seen to favor their own masses politically through staffing, tenders and social supports, like the parties before them. Clientelism, used for one-party supporters in the early years of the Republic, has manifested itself in many areas from the 1950s onwards, from large businessmen engaged in international trade to religious groups. After the Democratic Party era, the administration which changed hands frequently with military interventions, did not reduce clientelism, the fight against clientelism became difficult after the suspension of the laws, and clientelism was used to maintain power by those who aspired to power because of the weak civil society and civil politics. Similar to the Democratic Party (DP) time, during the Motherland Party (ANAP) government which came to power after the 1980 coup, the free market and liberal applications, clientelism continued as a practice and bureaucratic appoints, tender bidding contracts and KIT's were made available to supporter businessmen, religious groups, ethnic origins and party's mass voters. Although the post-ANAP coalition governments often changed, it became obvious that the ruling parties practiced clientelism even to gangs, especially in appointing bureaucrats and civil servants, in tenders and in protecting them from crime. Political parties and the governments of the period, namely the True Path Party (Doğru Yol Partisi), Social Democratic populist party (Sosyal Demokrat Halkçı Parti), Motherland Party (Anavatan Partisi- ANAP), Welfare Party (Refah Partisi), Democratic Left Party (Demokratik Sol Parti), Nationalist Movement Party (Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi) were all in conflict with each other about clientelism, however it is observed that each party practices clientelism to favor their audience and voters. Key words: Clientelism, Patronage, Political Party, Turkey