Policy priorities in the election manifestos of political parties in Turkey, 2002-2015

Abstract

The policy areas prioritized by the major Turkish political parties during the election campaigns between 2002 and 2015 are examined in this study. The main questions to be addressed are as follows: Which policy areas do the political parties prioritize? Is there a significant divergence in the prioritization of different policy areas or are there common themes that are emphasized by all parties? Are there trends regarding the parties’ policy priorities over time? and finally, do the policy areas, as prioritized by the parties, correspond to what the public considers as important issues? To address these questions, the election manifestos of the four major Turkish political parties are analyzed. The analyses show that policy areas related to the economy, welfare, and quality of life are the most recurring themes in the election manifestos of the four major Turkish parties between 2002 and 2015.