Inter-party competition on Facebook in a non-election period in Turkey: equalization or normalization?

ABSTRACT

Equalization and normalization theses explain the impact of social media on the competition among political actors, such as political parties and candidates. In this context, this study analyzes whether the equalization or the normalization thesis is valid in terms of inter-party competition on Facebook in a non-election period in Turkey by using an automated cluster analysis, T test analysis and Mann-Whitney U test. The main research question of this study is whether the use of social media favours major or minor parties in Turkey. The findings of the analysis show that the inter-party competition on Facebook in Turkey generally confirms the claims of the normalization thesis.

KEYWORDS:

• Equalization
• normalization
• social media
• political parties
• Facebook
• Turkey

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Although there is some criticism (the 10% electoral threshold) concerning Turkish election system (PACE 2015, 2018; OSCE 2016, 2018), some scholars and experts argue that current election system and especially legal amendments made before early presidential and parliamentary elections (24 June 2018) that legalize election coalitions in Turkey contributed significantly to justice in representation and stability in government (Miş and Duran 2018; Ustabulut 2018; Akgün 2018). In fact, according to the results of 7 June 2015 parliamentary election, 95% of voters were represented in the parliament. For November 2015 early parliamentary election, it was around 97.5%; while it was 99.3% for 24 June 2018 parliamentary election. However, discussing the election system in Turkey is beyond the aim and scope of the analysis.

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Mehmet Zahid Sobaci

Mehmet Zahid Sobaci is an Associate Professor of Public Administration at Uludağ University, Turkey. His research interests are social media in politics; public policy, and public management reform. He has authored, edited, and co-edited books, most recently “Sub-National Democracy and Politics through Social Media”, “Social Media and Local Governments: Theory and Practice”, “Administrative Reform and Policy Transfer: The Diffusion of the New Public Management (in Turkish), and “Public Policy: Theory and Practice” (in Turkish). He is also the author of many journal articles and book chapters published in national and international journals and books.