Web-Based Visibility of Participatory Management in NGOs: The Case of Public Benefit Associations in Istanbul and Ankara
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study examines the website-based visibility of participation in NGO management among public-benefit associations (PBAs) in Türkiye. Although participation in management is widely recognized as a core principle of effective NGO management, empirical research on its visible manifestations remains limited, particularly in the case of legally recognized PBAs. The study employs qualitative content analysis supported by a literature review and analyzes 256 PBAs located in Istanbul and Ankara. The analysis is based on thirteen website-based indicators grouped into three dimensions: institutional openness and public accessibility, participation in management, transparency and accountability, and direct participation accessibility. The findings show that while most associations maintain a digital presence, the visibility of participation in management remains uneven and often weak, especially regarding general assembly disclosure, audit information, membership invitations, and financial transparency. The study concludes that public-benefit status does not automatically correspond to strong website-based visibility of participation in management and offers recommendations for improving digital transparency and accountability.
Source: Liberal Düşünce Dergisi
Author: Orhan Polat
Language: Turkish
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7208733396