The academic literature on negative campaigning is towering. Although that is the case, this growing literature mainly focuses on US and a couple of singular European electoral contexts. In order to enhance the theoretical and empirical knowledge on the phenomena there is a need for research in alternative settings. Turkish elections, in that sense, provide a fertile ground. Although Turkish political actors frequently use the strategies of negative campaigning, the subject has not been studied in Turkey yet. In order to fulfil these gaps in the literature, this study tries to provide answers to the following research questions: What is the level of negativity in Turkish elections both for national and local elections? Is there a difference in the level of negativity when we compare general elections in time?
What are the focuses of negative campaigns? Character traits, issues or values? What is the relevancy and power of negative campaigning for the Turkish voter?
In line with the aims of the workshop, this study tries to combine two dominant research strands of negative campaigning. First and foremost, it aimed to determine the use of negative campaigning in in a longitudinal manner for the Turkish elections. Second, and perhaps more importantly, it employed negative campaigning as an independent variable of the vote function in the Turkish setting. Since the research strategy and method of the proposed project provides opportunity for international comparisons, it is hoped that this research will provide bases for cross national comparative studies.
