Who Brokers? Representation, Brokerage and Social Capital in Local Politics

• In Event: 40269 - Social Ties, Social Networks, and Social Capital: Origins and Consequences

Abstract

This study examines the representational capacities, roles, and impacts of political brokers within the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Istanbul’s district municipal councils, with a particular focus on their social capital and its variations. Analyzing the biographies and civil society affiliations of 684 AKP district council members elected in 2019, the research identifies distinct broker profiles and their integration into the AKP’s local political network. Employing K-modes clustering, the study categorizes brokers based on their affiliations with different civil society organizations, illuminating the interplay between party structures and grassroots networks.The findings reveal three distinct groups of council members based on their brokerage capacities. The Non-CSO group primarily relies on linking social capital, occupies official roles, and exerts limited influence. The Single-CSO group is predominantly rooted in bonding social capital, functions as a representative, and holds moderate influence. The Hybrid-CSO group is characterized by bridging social capital, operates as an alliance builder, and wields significant influence. Additionally, the study highlights the overrepresentation of certain internal migrant groups among district council members and challenges prevailing assumptions in the literature regarding gender representation among AKP-affiliated brokers. It also reevaluates the role of religious service associations in political mediation. By contributing to debates on clientelism, political brokerage, social capital, and local politics, this study offers new insights into the political dynamics of Turkey and comparable contexts worldwide.

Authors

• Suleyman Kiroglu, University of Colorado-Boulder

• Huseyin Zeyd Koytak, Syracuse University