The Approaches of Political Parties towards Artificial Intelligence in Türkiye: A Qualitative Analysis of Party Programs and Election Manifestos
Chapter from the book:
Özden,
Y.
(ed.)
2026.
Democratization Processes in Turkish Political Life.
Synopsis
This study aims to analyze the approaches of political parties in Türkiye to artificial intelligence by focusing on common themes found in party texts. Without comparing parties, the analysis looks at how artificial intelligence is defined in political documents, which roles and functions are attributed to it, in which areas and through what types of uses it is framed, and how future perspectives and risk awareness regarding artificial intelligence are developed. The study collects its data from party programs and 2023 election manifestos selected through purposive sampling and conducts the analysis using a thematic analysis method based on qualitative content analysis. The coding process is carried out using MAXQDA 2020 software, and the analysis is structured around four main themes: ways of defining artificial intelligence, approaches to its use, future perspectives, and risk awareness and concerns. The findings show that artificial intelligence is conceptualized in party texts as a component of the technological ecosystem and as a leading and strategic technology; that it is mainly discussed in the context of public administration, economic life, and data analysis through functions such as decision support, forecasting, and control; that the institutionalization of artificial intelligence and the creation of a national roadmap for its future are emphasized; and that, at the same time, artificial intelligence is seen as a field of transformation that generates risks requiring management in terms of privacy, ethics, labor, and democracy.
