Elections are around the corner: belonging and reaction!

In electoral democracies, the officials and decision-makers who will manage and determine the future of society and the country are ultimately determined by general and local "voting".

For now, in countries like ours, the "ballot box" handles this task.

In the near future, it is likely that the opportunities provided by electronic and information technology will replace the ballot box, as is the case in other countries.

Main issues such as "the country's security problem, economic situation, personal and social ideology, and personal charisma" can guide the voter's preference, either individually or in combination.

Along with these, in addition to personal and social attitudes that can turn into behavior under the influence of the general socio-economic environment, the voter's feeling of "belonging" to a political party can determine the general flow or create a new situation.

This "sense of belonging" can emerge intensely not only among party members and sympathizers but also among ordinary citizens.

"Being a partisan", "being a supporter", "being a loyalist", etc.

This can significantly affect election results.

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One of the most important phenomena that has influenced human behavior since childhood is the "sense of belonging".

Since its inception, humanity owes its existence to its intelligence and its ability to act collectively and socialize.

Living collectively has both made life easier and provided the most suitable environment for the continuation of the species.

Even despite individual differences. And even despite the emergence of social classes over time.

One way or another, socialization has been the foundation for guaranteeing the protection of individuals' existence and interests despite all kinds of adversity.

One of the most important cements for the formation of such a material vital togetherness appears to us as the "sense of belonging".

Belonging to a family, a clan, a tribe, a religious community, a city-village, a nation, a social class, an ideological environment, etc., feeling a sense of belonging to them, and connecting to them brings about being a part of that community and existing safely within that community to live.

For such a sense of belonging, in a narrow sense, although it is necessary to be accepted into the community to which one is connected, today individuals can connect themselves to a movement or feel they belong to one with their own decisions or with the encouragement of their relatives.

This sense of connection, which is one of the first motivations of humanity, can also be decisive in the daily life, political shaping, and attitudes of individuals in the modern age.

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Which party are you from, which team do you support, which religion are you from, which sect are you from, what is your ideology, who are you a fellow countryman with, what is your hometown, what is your nationality?

The answers to these questions shape people's general identity and also explain the strongest subjects of belonging.

Although this bond may be loose in many individuals, it emerges effectively in many others.

The fact that a person feels they belong to such a community and is a part of it ensures that they accept the decisions of those who manage that community, even if they might question them in a low voice internally, and behave accordingly.

In fact, if the sense of belonging is very strong, it requires pledging allegiance to that community or to the person or persons managing that community, and complying with them entirely.

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Although there are many such communities with different purposes and structures across the country, belonging holds a very important place in politics.

Those who feel connected to a social environment do not hesitate to implement the behavior or action put before them after accepting the decisions of those formations as they are, or after receiving answers they find satisfactory to the questions formed in their minds.

The person/persons who connect to or join a political formation by being persuaded in some way follow the path drawn by that formation and defend it.

That path may or may not be suitable for the development of humanity and society!

There are millions of such people who are unconditionally attached to the political parties participating in elections.

In electoral democracies, their preference is directly in the direction of the political parties and social organizations they feel they belong to.

Those who strive to change the attitudes and preferences of such citizens say, "even if you cut their heads off, their preference will not change."

They describe this as "fanaticism".

"Hardcore" voters do not hesitate to show themselves in every election!

Even if they are to change their attitudes, they change them collectively due to the need to be directed.

Instead of discussing and sharing truths, and solving problems or finding a way based on science and reason, acting with a rigid sense of belonging may not bring good to the individual and society.

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So what do those who do not feel they belong to a political formation do?

If the socio-economic situation managed by political powers in a country provides a certain degree of prosperity and freedom to individuals, the majority of voters, along with those who feel a sense of belonging to the government, do not make much noise and approve of the governments.

Those who carry a "counter-belonging" to the government in accordance with their own existential attitudes reject the practices of the governments and vote against them.

Those who are hopeless, whether positive or negative, and think that nothing will change, do not go to the ballot box, do not vote, or cast invalid votes.

In a country, and in our country as well, if the socio-economic situation is bad and individuals are complaining about their prosperity and freedoms, the situation can change.

Voters can show, and do show, a "reaction" to the political power they hold responsible for these negative conditions.

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"Reaction" is defined as the behavior or response that an object shows against another object that pushes or compresses it.

In human behavior, "feeling a reaction, showing a reaction" is expressed as the individual or society stating their opinion on an event or situation through words or actions.

This is also called "taking a stand".

In ordinary times, the individual and society show their reaction to negative living conditions and the practices of the political power through various ways; demonstrations, press releases, articles, and actions.

The conditions for showing this reaction are determined by laws!

Although smart administrators learn lessons from these reactions, they mostly do not like encountering reactions.

In general and local elections where political power will be voted on through electoral democracy, a "reaction" against negative living conditions can be, and is, shown at the ballot box.

This reaction takes place as opposing the parties that make up the current government and not voting for them.

Such a reaction can both change governments and ensure that the causes of the negativity are understood.

The deeper the negativity, the more the positive work done during the government process can be ignored.

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There are elections in our country soon.

The society is restless!

It is a widespread belief that the law does not function, there is no merit in determining administrators, and arbitrariness is increasing.

The fatigue of the political power that has been governing the country for years is also evident.

A large part of society is suffering from the economic situation.

The value of money is eroding day by day.

The cost of living is skyrocketing.

Hunger is being discussed in vast and fertile lands where so many hardworking people live.

Retirees are being dragged into living in unbelievable conditions.

Young people are hopeless.

They graduate from school but cannot find jobs.

The wealthy, on the other hand, enjoy their assets but are insecure about their future.

How will society express that it does not consent to this environment?

The government does not listen to mass demonstrations at all.

Many actions that could reveal reactions can be labeled as illegal and suppressed with violence!

The ballot box, which can ensure the change of the political power responsible for negative practices that will change the general and local government, comes before the people once every five years.

Even though the upcoming election is a local election, even if local administrators will be re-elected or not, the public can express their preference in this election as a reaction against the negativity of the conditions they live in.

The public's economic-political reaction is always a warning for those who govern, just as it can change governments in every segment and every formation.

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Yes, local elections are near.

Just as "reaction" is a very effective form of behavior, "belonging" has traditional, unshakable roots.

Let's see, in these elections, in general and local, in country and city problems, along with other decisive factors, will "belonging" or "reaction" be effective?