Political Elections In Turkey (1950-2002)

Printed and visual media have the power of guiding the society as ideological apparatuses. As advertisements reflect societal values and daily relationships, they can be evaluated as cultural texts that make an entry to history. Mc Luhan argues that advertising is one of the richest and most loyal social activities. Thus, political advertisements once more unfold the old relationship of politics and communication that is rooted back to history of humanity. Political parties are the participations of voters in political life. Analysing political campaigns pave the way for social analysis as well. From past to present, political parties and leaders have benefited from the art of communication and possibilities of technology. In accordance with the developments in the field, it can be observed that strategies and tactics employed in political campaigns have been advanced likewise. 1950 elections, that enabled the society to reveal its free will through voting, has a significant place in Turkish political history as the beginning of democracy-politics-communication triangle. This article aims to indicate prominent features of parties by analysing political campaigns in Turkey between 1950 and 2002 and their message strategies. Political advertisements that are used in political campaigns provide the basis of research. This study intends to evaluate the transformation of political communication and political campaigns in Turkey and its historical background by conveying the campaigns through descriptive narration and analysing posters and printed advertisements in elections. Results of the study reveal that political parties develop discourses in the light of their visions and missions; there is an increase in negative political advertisements while rival parties employ similar policies; additionally, it was observed that parties that provide positive and hopeful discourses gain victory in the political race. In this study mainly government and the main opposition parties, election campaigns are discussed between 1950-2002 election campaign.

Keywords

Political campaigns, political communication, advertisements, political parties, recent history.