The Role of Economic Elites in Local Politics: The Gaziantep Example

Ali Fuat Gökçe; Muhammed Aksu; Nazım Fatsa

Article Details

The Role of Economic Elites in Local Politics: The Gaziantep Example

Authors:

Ali Fuat Gökçe | Muhammed Aksu | Nazım Fatsa

Publisher:

Ahmet FİDAN

Main Topics:

Politika ve Yönetim (Diğer) | Yerel Yönetimler

Journal:

Kent Akademisi Vol.18 Issue 4, pp.2308-2321

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001352861

pISSN:

2146-9229

Keywords:

Abstract:

 ABSTRACT Politics is a mechanism that is of interest both at the national and local levels as a place for individuals to discuss country problems, find solutions, gain material or spiritual benefits, expand their social and friend circles, and realize themselves in the political arena. Therefore, many people strive to be active and effective in the political arena. However, it is seen that the expectations of people involved in the political arena are often not fully realized or partially realized. There are many factors that affect this process that produces positive or negative results. These include factors such as the persons level of education, financial situation, personal characteristics, and communication skills. In this study, the effect of elitism on individuals participation in politics at the local level will be examined through capital. In theories of elitism, the first classical elitism theorists Mosca and Paretos explanations come to mind. In this study, Paretos hypothesis that economic elites among elite groups in the social sphere are effective in local politics will be tested by starting from Moscas concept of the ruling elite. In this context, it has been tried to find answers to the questions of how much the political visibility of the wealthy corresponds to the represented base, how the presence of the wealthy on the lists during the process of determining the MPs has an effect, whether the visibility of the wealthy in politics is effective in terms of political financing and causes an effective hegemony of the wealthy, how much the professions of local MPs are effective on the hegemony of the wealthy in regional politics around the example of Gaziantep province. In the study, a document-based analysis will be made by applying the historical and descriptive research type, and in line with this method, firstly the concepts of politics and elitism will be briefly mentioned and then an examination will be made on the professions of the MPs in Gaziantep province between the 22nd and 28th parliamentary terms according to the TBMM records. While conducting this examination, especially the capital and finance owners who were elected as MPs in the industrial sector in the example of Gaziantep province were accepted as wealthy.

 ABSTRACT Politics is a mechanism that is of interest both at the national and local levels as a place for individuals to discuss country problems, find solutions, gain material or spiritual benefits, expand their social and friend circles, and realize themselves in the political arena. Therefore, many people strive to be active and effective in the political arena. However, it is seen that the expectations of people involved in the political arena are often not fully realized or partially realized. There are many factors that affect this process that produces positive or negative results. These include factors such as the persons level of education, financial situation, personal characteristics, and communication skills. In this study, the effect of elitism on individuals participation in politics at the local level will be examined through capital. In theories of elitism, the first classical elitism theorists Mosca and Paretos explanations come to mind. In this study, Paretos hypothesis that economic elites among elite groups in the social sphere are effective in local politics will be tested by starting from Moscas concept of the ruling elite. In this context, it has been tried to find answers to the questions of how much the political visibility of the wealthy corresponds to the represented base, how the presence of the wealthy on the lists during the process of determining the MPs has an effect, whether the visibility of the wealthy in politics is effective in terms of political financing and causes an effective hegemony of the wealthy, how much the professions of local MPs are effective on the hegemony of the wealthy in regional politics around the example of Gaziantep province. In the study, a document-based analysis will be made by applying the historical and descriptive research type, and in line with this method, firstly the concepts of politics and elitism will be briefly mentioned and then an examination will be made on the professions of the MPs in Gaziantep province between the 22nd and 28th parliamentary terms according to the TBMM records. While conducting this examination, especially the capital and finance owners who were elected as MPs in the industrial sector in the example of Gaziantep province were accepted as wealthy.

 ABSTRACT Politics is a mechanism that is of interest both at the national and local levels as a place for individuals to discuss country problems, find solutions, gain material or spiritual benefits, expand their social and friend circles, and realize themselves in the political arena. Therefore, many people strive to be active and effective in the political arena. However, it is seen that the expectations of people involved in the political arena are often not fully realized or partially realized. There are many factors that affect this process that produces positive or negative results. These include factors such as the persons level of education, financial situation, personal characteristics, and communication skills. In this study, the effect of elitism on individuals participation in politics at the local level will be examined through capital. In theories of elitism, the first classical elitism theorists Mosca and Paretos explanations come to mind. In this study, Paretos hypothesis that economic elites among elite groups in the social sphere are effective in local politics will be tested by starting from Moscas concept of the ruling elite. In this context, it has been tried to find answers to the questions of how much the political visibility of the wealthy corresponds to the represented base, how the presence of the wealthy on the lists during the process of determining the MPs has an effect, whether the visibility of the wealthy in politics is effective in terms of political financing and causes an effective hegemony of the wealthy, how much the professions of local MPs are effective on the hegemony of the wealthy in regional politics around the example of Gaziantep province. In the study, a document-based analysis will be made by applying the historical and descriptive research type, and in line with this method, firstly the concepts of politics and elitism will be briefly mentioned and then an examination will be made on the professions of the MPs in Gaziantep province between the 22nd and 28th parliamentary terms according to the TBMM records. While conducting this examination, especially the capital and finance owners who were elected as MPs in the industrial sector in the example of Gaziantep province were accepted as wealthy.

 ÖZ Siyaset, bireylerin ülke sorunlarını tartışmak, çözüm bulmak, maddi ya da manevi menfaat elde etmek, sosyal ve arkadaş çevresini genişletmek ve siyasal alanda kendini gerçekleştirme alanı olarak gerek ülke düzeyinde gerekse de yerel düzeyde ilgi duyulan bir mekanizmadır. Dolayısıyla birçok kişi siyasal alanda faaliyet göstermek ve etkili olmak için gayret gösterirler. Ancak siyasal alana dahil olan kişilerin çoğu zaman beklentilerinin tam olarak gerçekleşmediği ya da kısmı olarak gerçekleştiği görülmektedir. Bu olumlu ya da olumsuz sonuç doğuran sürece etki eden birçok etken bulunmaktadır. Bunlar arasında kişinin eğitim seviyesi, maddi durumu, kişisel özellikleri, iletişim becerisi gibi etkenler yer alır. Bu çalışmada yerel seviyedeki siyasette elitizmin bireylerin siyasete katılmasındaki etkisi sermaye üzerinden incelenecektir. Elitizm teorilerinde akla ilk klasik elitizm teorisyenlerinden Mosca ve Paretonun açıklamaları gelmektedir. Bu çalışmada Paretonun Moscanın yönetici elit kavramından hareket ederek toplumsal alandaki elit gruplar arasındaki ekonomik elitlerin yerel siyasette etkili olduğu hipotezi test edilmeye çalışılacaktır. Bu bağlamda varsılların politik görünürlüklerinin temsil edilen tabanda ne kadar karşılığı olduğu, milletvekili belirleme sürecinde zenginlerin listelerde yer almalarının etkisinin nasıl olduğu, zenginlerin siyasette görünür olmalarının siyaset finansmanı açısından etkili olup etkin bir varsıl hegemonyasına sebep olup olmadığı, Gaziantep ili örneği etrafında yerel milletvekili mesleklerinin bölge siyasetinde varsıl hegemonyasına ne kadar etkili oldğu sorularına cevap aranmaya çalışılmıştır. Çalışmada tarihsel ve betimsel araştırma türü uygulanarak, belgeye dayalı analiz yapılacak olup bu yöntem doğrultusunda öncelikle siyaset, elitizm kavramlarından kısaca bahsedildikten sonra TBMM kayıtlarına göre 22. ve 28. parlamento dönemleri arası Gaziantep ilindeki milletvekillerinin meslekleri üzerinden inceleme yapılacaktır.Bu inceleme yapılırken Gaziantep ili örneği özellikle endüstriyel sektörde milletvekili olarak seçilmiş olan sermaye ve finans sahipleri varsıl olarak kabul edilmiştir.

Article Details

The Role of Economic Elites in Local Politics: The Gaziantep Example

Authors:

Ali Fuat Gökçe | Muhammed Aksu | Nazım Fatsa

Publisher:

Ahmet FİDAN

Main Topics:

Politika ve Yönetim (Diğer) | Yerel Yönetimler

Journal:

Kent Akademisi Vol.18 Issue 4, pp.2308-2321

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001352861

pISSN:

2146-9229

Local Politics

Elitism

Hegemony of the Wealthy

Representation and Base Opposition

Political Participation and Economic InfluenceYerel siyaset

Elitizm

Varsıl Hegemonyası

Temsil ve Taban Karşılığı

Siyasal Katılım ve Ekonomik Etki

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Ali Fuat Gökçe | Muhammed Aksu | Nazım Fatsa

Publisher: Ahmet FİDAN

Main Topics: Politika ve Yönetim (Diğer) | Yerel Yönetimler

Journal: Kent Akademisi Vol.18 Issue 4, pp.2308-2321

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 7/2025

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001352861

pISSN: 2146-9229

Issues

Authors:

Ali Fuat Gökçe | Muhammed Aksu | Nazım Fatsa

Publisher:

Ahmet FİDAN

Main Topics:

Politika ve Yönetim (Diğer) | Yerel Yönetimler

Journal:

Kent Akademisi Vol.18 Issue 4, pp.2308-2321

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001352861

pISSN:

2146-9229