POLS410 CSES Data Exercise 4

Mert Birer

SATISFACTION WITH DEMOCRACY- TURKEY

SATISFACTION WITH DEMOCRACY NON-INCUMBENT PERCENTAGE

VERY SATISFIED 16 3,18%
FAIRLY SATISFIED 41 8,15%
NOT VERY SATISFIED 178 35,39%
NOT AT ALL SATISFIED 268 53,28%
TOTAL 503 100,00%

As we can see in the data the non-incumbent voters are overwhelmingly non-satisfied with
the democracy in Turkey. Almost 90% of the voters have expressed their dissatisfaction
about the democracy in the country and majoritf of them are not at all satisfied.

SATISFACTION WITH DEMOCRACY INCUMBENT PERCENTAGE

VERY SATISFIED 120 22,51%
FAIRLY SATISFIED 286 53,66%
NOT VERY SATISFIED 72 13,51%
NOT AT ALL SATISFIED 42 7,88%
TOTAL 533 100,00%
Satisfaction with democracy is significantly higher among incumbents compared to non-
incumbents. In contrast to the non-incumbents the majority of the incumbent voters are
thinking the democracy in Turkey is functioning well but we can see that their views on
democracy is not as sharp as the non incumbents since their views are "fairly" satisfied with
rather than "very" satisfied.

SATISFACTION WITH DEMOCRACY- ANTALYA

SATISFACTION WITH DEMOCRACY INCUMBENT PERCENTAGE

FAIRLY SATISFIED 11 84,62%
VOLUNTEERED: DON'T KNOW 2 15,38%
TOTAL 13 100,00%

SATISFACTION WITH DEMOCRACY NON-INCUMBENT PERCENTAGE

VERY SATISFIED 1 2,94%
NOT VERY SATISFIED 13 38,24%
NOT AT ALL SATISFIED 20 58,82%
TOTAL 34 100,00%

Satisfaction with democracy is significantly higher among incumbents compared to non-

incumbents provincially too. However, Antalya shows an even more pronounced difference
with an almost negligible proportion of non-incumbents feeling very satisfied.
STATE OF THE ECONOMY - TURKEY

STATE OF THE ECONOMY NON-INCUMBENTS PERCENTAGE

GOTTEN MUCH BETTER 9 1,68%
GOTTEN SOMEWHAT BETTER 23 4,29%
STAYED ABOUT THE SAME 53 9,89%
GOTTEN SOMEWHAT WORSE 174 32,46%
GOTTEN MUCH WORSE 244 45,52%
VOLUNTEERED: REFUSED 18 3,36%
VOLUNTEERED: DON'T KNOW 15 2,80%
TOTAL 536 100,00%

STATE OF THE ECONOMY INCUMBENTS PERCENTAGE

GOTTEN MUCH BETTER 54 10,13%
GOTTEN SOMEWHAT BETTER 183 34,33%
STAYED ABOUT THE SAME 112 21,01%
GOTTEN SOMEWHAT WORSE 128 24,02%
GOTTEN MUCH WORSE 43 8,07%
VOLUNTEERED: REFUSED 6 1,13%
VOLUNTEERED: DON'T KNOW 7 1,31%
TOTAL 533 100,00%

The view on the state of the economy is significantly different among two different groups.
Incumbent voters have a more positive outlook on the economy compared to non-
incumbents.

STATE OF THE ECONOMY - ANTALYA

STATE OF THE ECONOMY NON-INCUMBENTS PERCENTAGE

GOTTEN SOMEWHAT BETTER 1 2,94%
STAYED ABOUT THE SAME 3 8,82%
GOTTEN SOMEWHAT
14 41,18%
WORSE
GOTTEN MUCH WORSE 15 44,12%
VOLUNTEERED: REFUSED 1 2,94%
TOTAL 34 100,00%

STATE OF THE ECONOMY INCUMBENTS PERCENTAGE

GOTTEN MUCH BETTER 1 7,69%
GOTTEN SOMEWHAT BETTER 6 46,15%
STAYED ABOUT THE SAME 5 38,46%
GOTTEN MUCH WORSE 1 7,69%
TOTAL 13 100,00%
In Antalya province the negative perception about the state of the economy among non-
incumbents is more intense than the national data. In Turkey %15 of the non-incumbent
voters are more leaned towards the center or positive side while it drops down under 10%
on the Antalya region which can be explained by the severity of the economic crisis in big
cities like Antalya versus the smaller provinces of Turkey.

HOW WIDESPREAD IS CORRUPTION - TURKEY

CORRUPTION NON-INCUMBENTS PERCENTAGE

VERY WIDESPREAD 203 37,87%
QUITE WIDESPREAD 179 33,40%
NOT VERY WIDESPREAD 52 9,70%
IT HARDLY HAPPENS AT
12 2,24%
ALL
REFUSED 25 4,66%
DON'T KNOW 65 12,13%
TOTAL 536 100,00%

CORRUPTION INCUMBENTS PERCENTAGE

VERY WIDESPREAD 92 17,26%
QUITE WIDESPREAD 182 34,15%
NOT VERY WIDESPREAD 113 21,20%
IT HARDLY HAPPENS AT ALL 65 12,20%
REFUSED 19 3,56%
DON'T KNOW 62 11,63%
TOTAL 533 100,00%

Perception of corruption is widespread among both groups in Turkey, with a slightly higher
tendency among non-incumbents in the country. Almost all non-incumbent voters who
answered the question properly has a universal agreement on widespreadness of corruption
in the country. Interestingly incumbent voters, not as high tendency as others, have the
same kind of perception on the corruption in the country.

HOW WIDESPREAD IS CORRUPTION - ANTALYA

CORRUPTION NON-INCUMBENTS PERCENTAGE

VERY WIDESPREAD 12 35,29%
QUITE WIDESPREAD 16 47,06%
NOT VERY
1 2,94%
WIDESPREAD
REFUSED 5 14,71%
TOTAL 34 100,00%
 CORRUPTION INCUMBENTS PERCENTAGE
QUITE WIDESPREAD 12 92,31%
NOT VERY WIDESPREAD 1 7,69%
TOTAL 13 100,00%

In Antalya altough the sample size is very small we can see a simillar pattern with more
strong perception on the widespreadness of the corruption in the country. Almost all voters
in Antalya, no matter if they are incumbent or non-incumbent, think that there is a quite
widespread corruption in the country.

Creative Writing:

Ayşe Teyze, now slightly older and with her grandchildren often running around the small
garden of her village home in Gündoğmuş, remains a staunch supporter of the Erdogan, her
loyalty driven by a mix of past benefits received and her admiration for strong leadership.
Despite the hard years her face lights up when she talks about the recent job his son got in
the local municipality with a strong referance from one of the strong person in Gündoğmuş
AKP district organisation.

Altough the economy has been tough on the pocket, Ayşe Teyze sees a positive side. "It's
tough, but who else could do better?" she often says aloud, slicing vegetables for the
evening meal, her voice a mix of acceptance and hope. She hears about the corruption on
her region, whispers that funds meant for development of Antalya sometimes get in the
hands of rantier people. Yet, she says "Yes they steal but they work. The opposition can't
work like them and they would steal too.". As a religious person she gets a relief on thinking
Erdogan don't know about those theives and she blames the outer circle of Erdogan on
everything. She have no particular thoughts about the democracy. She believes that going to
approve Erdogan with unlimited powers in the ballot box in every 4 years is more than
enough for a functioning democracy and she thinks Turkey has become more democratic
since Erdogan because of the reforms on religious symbols and especially on turban issue.
She thinks without Erdogan no one will hear their voice and it is enough for thinking this is
the most optimal democratic system for Turkey.

Referances

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ELECTORAL SYSTEMS (CSES) - MODULE 5 (2016-2021)