Polarisation and youth in Turkey: young people as gatekeepers or challengers of polarisation?

Abstract

Amid global trends of increased polarisation and Turkey's deep-seated ethnic, religious, and cultural cleavages, polarisation poses significant risks to democratic sustainability in Turkey. This study, leveraging a 2017 national survey and in-depth interviews with young people during a pivotal shift to a presidential regime, explores whether youth remain divided by political attitudes and cultural values or challenge entrenched divisions in society. We found that both sociocultural identities (being religious or secular) and partisan identities (supporting the ruling powers or the opposition) create issue-based polarisation among youth. Contrary to expectations, however, this polarisation does not extend to an affective one, suggesting a complex, nuanced landscape of political engagement and potential for bridging divides.