Understanding of democracy in the Turkish public opinion during 1930 municipality election and 1946 general election in Turkey

The single party era of the Republic of Turkey always has been an interesting subject among historians. The people of Turkey had shown a significant change during this era in so many ways. Possible moft important one of these changes is political change. In this study, you will find the different factors which had affected and shaped Turkish people's ideas of democracy and oppositon. We'll study both political party which joined elections, their propaganda during the elections and how much that propaganda affected Turkish people. Also with thesis we can see in 16 years what Republican People's Party had done to shape people's idea of democracy. In this thesis opposite views were often compared and with that we try to find the logical results. The biggest question this thesis will answer is why the Turks has shown an interest opposition political parties in two different direct elections against a powerful ruling party with a charismatic leader by comparing 1930 Municipal Elections and 1946 Parlimentary Election. Keywords: Republican People's Party, Free Republican Party, Democrat Party, The Opposition, Turkish Democracy