Party system institutionalization dynamics in Türkiye (1983-2017)

This thesis, by focusing on the concept of party system institutionalization, examines the Turkish party system between 1983-2017 and analyses the institutionalization dynamics of this period. In the discussions around the concept of the party system institutionalisation, it is seen that different results have been reached due to the emphasis on different dimensions. Although the studies that have been measuring the concept by considering it in a multidimensional manner for many years have been replaced by a single dimensional conceptualisation centred on stability in recent years, these debates have not ended. Discussions on the definition of the concept, its dimensions, the measurement methods to be used and the factors affecting it remain at the centre of the literature. From this point of view, the thesis firstly outlines the concept of party system and then expresses the limitations by focusing on the the party system institutionalisation. The thesis deals with the party system institutionalisation in terms of stability and as a process. In order to understand the level of institutionalisation, it makes use of the distinction between within-system and extra-system and makes measurements at the electoral, parliamentary and governmental levels. While the coalitional system between 1983-2002 with parties of equal size exhibits a low level of institutionalisation at all three levels, the dominant party system between 2002-2017 shows signs of high institutionalisation at all three levels. To explain the differences between these two periods, the impact of legal arrangements, dimensions of the party system such as fragmentation and polarisation, party institutionalisation and government performance are discussed. In the period between 1983 and 2002, the Turkish party system showed a low level of institutionalisation pattern due to the destabilisation of the Turkish party system through continuous legal regulations, high fragmentation and low polarisation, weak institutionalisation of political parties and poor administrative performance of governments, whereas in the post-2002 period, the level of institutionalisation of the party system has increased due to the slowdown in legal regulations, decrease in fragmentation and increase in polarisation, institutionalisation of parties and good economic performance of governments.