Economic Policies of Democrat Party (A Content Analysis Study)

Democrat Party (DP), formed five different governments between 1950 and 1960, after winning the general elections in 1950, 1954 and 1957. The literature of economic history underscores the negative economic conditions of the period which helped DP come to power soon after the transition to multi-party system in 1946. The financial burdens of the Second World War were mostly on the shoulders the poor, while additional taxes imposed by Republican People's Party (CHP) had serious adverse effects on the capitalist sector. The trade bourgeoisie and big landlords, profiting from the scarcity, were the only groups positively affected by the war. Eventually, CHP as only ruling party until that time had to pay the bill of war, while DP, promising an immediate economic development, earned the support of the majority. DP, whose economic policy built on liberalization, prioritizing agriculture and developing the private sector, had to divert from the programs towards the second half of its 10-year government. This study analyzes the importance given to the economy by the DP and the changes in economic policies by using the content analysis method. It also discusses the reasons for the differences between the discourse and implementation.