Türkiye'de Kamu Politikası Literatürünün Kamu Yönetimi Dergileri Üzerinden Sistematik Bir Analizi (2000-2023)

Abstract

This doctoral dissertation aims to systematically analyze the academic journey and change of the public policy discipline in Türkiye between 2000 and 2023, based on articles published in public administration journals. The fundamental research question is how the thematic focuses, theoretical frameworks, and methodological approaches of the public policy literature have changed during this period. For this purpose, a dataset was compiled from articles in peer-reviewed journals in the field of public administration, scanned from databases such as DergiPark, TR Dizin, and Web of Science. The methodological framework of the dissertation is based on innovative techniques such as Natural Language Processing (NLP). At the core of the analysis lies this process, conducted through the Python programming language and its relevant libraries. The main research topics in these articles, the thematic clusters formed by these topics, and the transformation of the literature over time have been demonstrated through quantitative data and interactive visualizations. The findings indicate that the public policy literature in Türkiye has undergone a significant transformation since the early 2000s. While concepts such as process models and governance were prominent in the early part of the period, the use of analytical and critical theories, such as historical institutionalism, has increased over time. Methodologically, there has been a shift from legal-descriptive studies towards empirical and evidence-based analyses. Thematically, a diversification has been observed from topics like public administration reform and localization to more detailed and current policy areas such as health, migration, energy, environment, security, and digitalization. It has been particularly noted that developments such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the migration crisis, and the digital transformation have been rapidly reflected in the academic agenda. This dissertation reveals that the public policy discipline in Türkiye is transforming into an increasingly mature and autonomous field, shaped by the interaction of global academic paradigms and Türkiye-specific political and institutional dynamics. Nevertheless, it is also emphasized that there is still ground to be covered in areas such as the methodological depth of studies and the potential for developing original theories.