The Crisis of representation in Southern Europe : Gezi Park protests and 15m movement in comparative perspective

Abstract

By analysing two different cases of popular movements in Turkey (the Gezi Park protests) and Spain (the 15M movement) that received extensive support from different segments of society in both countries, this research aims at accounting for the question of what factors brought about popular disaffection and led to mass mobilisations under different circumstances. The contention is that one of the central factors behind these mass protests has been “the crisis of representation” resulting not only from the lack of voterparty congruence, but also from the failure of political parties to meet the demands of responsiveness and responsibility – the core requisite of the party government model.