Yapay Zekâ Çağında Popülizmin Yükselişi: Dijital Algoritmalar ve Siyasal Manipülasyon

Yıl 2025, Sayı: Yeni Medya Çalışmaları, 649 - 684, 28.09.2025

Yahya Gençay , Canan Katılmış

https://doi.org/10.53791/imgelem.1716179

Öz

Bu çalışma, dijitalleşme ve yapay zekâ teknolojilerinin, çağdaş popülist siyasal hareketlerin söylem üretimi, seçmen mobilizasyonu ve kamuoyu manipülasyonu üzerindeki etkilerini incelemektedir. Popülizm, tarihsel olarak halk ve elitler arasındaki karşıtlık temelinde şekillenen çok boyutlu bir olgu olarak değerlendirilmiş; ancak dijital çağda bu dinamik, dijital platformlar ve algoritmalar aracılığıyla yeni bir biçim kazanmıştır. Yapay zekâ destekli veri analizleri, algoritmik yönlendirmeler ve sosyal medya stratejileri, popülist aktörlerin siyasal iletişim süreçlerini yeniden yapılandırmalarına olanak tanımıştır. Bu teknolojiler, popülist söylemlerin geniş kitlelere ulaşmasını hızlandırırken, aynı zamanda dezenformasyon, yankı odaları ve mikro hedefleme gibi mekanizmalar aracılığıyla kamuoyunu manipüle etme potansiyelini arttırmıştır. Bu bağlamda çalışma, dijital medya ile popülist söylemler arasındaki etkileşimi analiz ederek, bu teknolojik dönüşümün demokratik normlar üzerindeki olası etkilerini tartışmayı amaçlamaktadır. Kuramsal-derleme yaklaşımı doğrultusunda yapılandırılan çalışma, yapay zekânın siyasal manipülasyon süreçlerinde nasıl araçsallaştırıldığını ortaya koymaktadır. Sonuç olarak, dijital teknolojilerin popülist siyasetin hem etkisini artıran hem de demokratik değerleri zayıflatma riski taşıyan çift yönlü bir işlev gördüğü ileri sürülmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Popülizm , Dijitalleşme , Yapay Zekâ , Algoritma , Siyasal Manipülasyon.

The Rise of Popularism in the Artificial Intelligence Era: Digital Algorithms and Political Manipulation

Öz

This study examines the effects of digitalization and artificial intelligence technologies on the discourse production, voter mobilization and public opinion manipulation of contemporary populist political movements. Populism has historically been considered as a multidimensional phenomenon shaped on the basis of the opposition between the people and the elites; however, in the digital era, this dynamic has taken on a new form through digital platforms and algorithms. Artificial intelligence-supported data analysis, algorithmic manipulation and social media strategies have enabled populist actors to restructure their political communication processes. While these technologies have accelerated the reach of populist discourses to large audiences, they have also increased the potential to manipulate public opinion through mechanisms such as disinformation, echo chambers and microtargeting. In this context, the study aims to analyze the interaction between digital media and populist discourses and discuss the possible effects of this technological transformation on democratic norms. The study is structured in accordance with a qualitative research approach. Based on a theoretical and conceptual literature review, it reveals how artificial intelligence is instrumentalized in political manipulation processes. As a result, it is argued that digital technologies have a dual function of both enhancing the impact of populist politics and risking to undermine democratic values.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Populism , Digitalization , Artificial Intelligence , Algorithms , Political Manipulation.

Kaynakça

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