The Potential of the Society 5.0 Strategy to Be a Solution to the Political and Structural Problems of Countries: The Case of Türkiye

Abstract

Türkiye is making great efforts to generate new projects within the scope of the “Türkiye Century” strategy, with the aim of increasing its effectiveness in the international community and the welfare of its citizens. In this respect, it is of great importance to conduct new studies and develop suggestions to further increase the effectiveness of new projects. This study seeks to provide a solution to the problems in politics, education, economy, public administration, justice, and corruption identified and reported by international organizations such as the OECD, the European Union, and the public institutions of the Republic of Türkiye, by associating them with the Society 5.0 strategy. The study aims to test the applicability of Society 5.0 in solving these problems through structural equation modeling using niche innovation and convergent stakeholder theories. In the light of the data obtained, it is realized that Society 5.0 has an effect on all the other variables except for one and the policy variable mediates this situation. In this regard, in accordance with the findings, it can be stated that Society 5.0 can be regarded as a significant alternative for solving the problems experienced on a suitable political basis.

1. Introduction

Türkiye is a country with great potential in the global arena thanks to its deep-rooted state history and the impact of its various dynamics and it is trying to find effective ways to use this potential. In this respect, some political initiatives such as “100th Anniversary of the Republic” and the “2023 Targets” were set up based on the discourse that great developments would be achieved in Türkiye, but these goals could not be fully achieved for various reasons [1]. As the 2023 targets failed to achieve the desired results, a new political target was put forward and the concept of the “Türkiye Century” was introduced, dedicated to Türkiye’s 2nd century. Based on the assumption that the primary conditions for realizing countries’ strategic goals are credibility and trust, it is clear that, to be successful, the concept of the Türkiye Century must have a structure that is well grounded, has intellectual validity and reasonable discourses, and is therefore convincing and realistic [2]. In this regard, this study aims to present a policy and strategy proposal that will associate the concept of the Turkish Century with the Society 5.0 strategy. It is thought that the Society 5.0 strategy, which is practiced in Japan for this purpose, could be an important political and strategic basis for Türkiye. Society 5.0, which emerged in Japan in 2016, aims to form a super smart society capable of overcoming social and physical challenges in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals. It utilizes technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, big data, cloud technology, and robotics [3]. It is anticipated that it will be possible to turn the program into one with a global counterpart, with a grounded, rational, and reliable structure by basing the Türkiye Century approach on that of Society 5.0. When the level of life satisfaction generated by citizens’ trust in public policies is equal to the life satisfaction that occurs with a more than 30% increase in income [4], the importance of this approach becomes even more valuable.

Japan, the architect of the Society 5.0 approach, is a significant ally of Türkiye in the international arena and the people of both countries are known to have a positive perception towards each other. In addition to collaborations in large-scale public projects (i.e., Fatih Sultan Mehmet and Osmangazi Bridge, etc.), bilateral relations are maintained between the two countries with large industrial investments such as the Toyota Automobile Factory. Moreover, many public management practices such as the health system adapted by Japan are utilized in Türkiye [5]. Along with these similarities and collaborations between the two countries, the studies in the literature on the applicability of Society 5.0 in Türkiye also constitute an important supporting point [6]. Based on this, two questions arise.

Is it really possible to practice Society 5.0 in Türkiye?

Türkiye has the necessary capacity for Society 5.0 thanks to its developed social structure and universities. It is possible to practice Society 5.0 applications in the form of sensor solutions for companies operating in Türkiye, such as Aselsan and Meteksan, which are experts in their fields, in the form of software for companies such as Akınsoft and Havelsan, in the form of robotic solutions for companies such as Akin Robotics and Altınay Robotics, and with examples that can be further multiplied. Nevertheless, in carrying out these activities, political determination and adequate budget allocation are regarded as a necessity [7].

Will Japan provide sufficient support to Türkiye for the implementation of Society 5.0?

Although the concept of Society 5.0 is regarded as a public policy, especially in Japan, it seems that the main practitioner and developer is Keidanren (the Japan Business Federation). Briefly, the technologies and infrastructures to be developed specifically for Society 5.0 will find application in the private sector not only in Japan but throughout the world. In this regard, Society 5.0 has a commercial aspect, and the road maps published by Keidanren reveal that cooperation with companies and countries is an important step [8]. It seems possible to carry out joint work with Japan if a sufficient budget is formed. Meanwhile, many contracts signed between Türkiye and Japan provide great convenience. However, when a comprehensive literature review is undertaken, the questions regarding in which areas Society 5.0 can be applied and whether it can meet the real needs of Türkiye remain a problem. Thus, this study first aims to identify Turkey’s current problems and test the applicability of Society 5.0 in solving these problems through structural equation modeling, using niche innovation and convergent stakeholder theories.

2. Literature Review and Hypotheses

Since the beginning of humanity, society has gone through a wide range of changes. Society 1.0 had a nomadic hunter and gatherer structure. Society 2.0 was a period when people adopted a settled life and engaged in agricultural activities. On the other hand, Society 3.0 brought the working class to light with the industrial revolution at the end of the 18th century and initiated large migrations from villages to cities. Society 4.0 was a process leading to the formation of the information society through the development of computer systems. Lastly, Society 5.0 aims to overcome social and environmental challenges by contributing to the welfare of society by means of advanced technologies [9].

Industrialization activities have been at the basis of social developments over the last three centuries. The basis of the Society 5.0 concept is Germany’s Industry 4.0 policies, which began to be implemented in 2011. Industry 4.0 aims to maintain the production that has shifted to the Far East in a way that is centered in Germany again in the light of technological developments. Briefly, Industry 4.0 is based on the idea of increasing Germany’s production capability, which is decreasing due to its aging population, and creating smart factories for more efficient and effective production [6]. The concept of Society 5.0 is a policy put forward as a solution in Japan as a result of the aging of the population, the decrease in production, social problems related to elderly care, and the need to renew the infrastructures built for development purposes since the 1950s [10,11]. The concept of Society 5.0 aims to make a contribution to the welfare of society in the light of the Sustainable Development Goals through the use of many technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, machine learning, block chain, cyber-physical systems that connect the virtual and the real and therefore ensure human–machine communication, social robotics, and virtual reality [12,13]. So as to achieve Society 5.0, Japan is trying to create effective and efficient policies with innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although artificial intelligence introduces many technological innovations for the concept of Society 5.0 at this point, it should be kept in mind that the main purpose is the welfare of human beings. Thus, administrative operations should be performed by people [4].

Briefly, the concept behind Society 5.0 is an effort to create a safe future for citizens by highlighting technological developments, particularly in Japan [14,15]. Although Society 5.0 emerged in Japan, it promises a solution to global problems rather than being an approach that only serves Japan [16]. From this point of view, Industry 5.0 in Europe, Made in China 2025 in China, UK Industry 2050 in the United Kingdom, Manufacturing Innovation 3.0 in South Korea, and Society 5.0 approaches in Japan are regarded as measures taken to ensure the welfare and future of their citizens [17]. In this respect, it may be effective to consider the Türkiye Century approach in this context and to transform the Society 5.0 approach as a practice in Türkiye so as to integrate with the global world and find effective solutions to the national problems [18].

In this respect, this study seeks to explain in which areas such a transformation should be carried out, with hypotheses formed in the light of data from the OECD, of which Türkiye is a member, European Union reports on countries whose membership process is ongoing, data from public institutions of the Republic of Türkiye, and current government policies [19,20].

The Türkiye 2023 Progress Report prepared by the European Union Commission contains a statement that “There are serious deficiencies in the functioning of democratic institutions in Türkiye”. Additionally, the report includes many evaluations similar to this statement regarding the policies followed in Türkiye [21]. In the report, which includes evaluations on many different areas such as democracy, institutional structures, economic problems, etc., an opinion regarding the reorganization of public policies in Türkiye was stated. Applications of Society 5.0 such as cyber-physical systems, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and big data are expected to be of great help in terms of ensuring transparency and creating and implementing rational policies [22]. Considering this, H1 hypothesis was formed:

H1: 

Society 5.0 has an effect on policies in Türkiye.

The concept of Society 5.0 is expected to bring innovation, growth, transportation, and social welfare with the continuous development of digital technologies by responding to social needs. Ensuring people’s lifelong learning through cyber-physical systems is among these activities [23]. In education, the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) Test is performed by the OECD so as to make comparisons between countries and to regulate education policies. When the 2022 PISA Results are evaluated, Türkiye is seen to have made progress when compared to previous years. In fact, it is observed that Türkiye shows a better result than the average results of OECD member countries in many areas. Nevertheless, there are also some serious criticisms about education in the report. For example, among OECD countries, where students skip meals due to financial constraints, Türkiye is stated to have a higher rate (19.3%) than Chile (13.1%), Colombia (13.3%) and New Zealand (14.1%) [24]. In this regard, it is possible to associate the resulting situation with the goals of Society 5.0’s SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 4 (Quality Education). Considering the OECD Report, H2 hypothesis was formed:

H2: 

Society 5.0 has an effect on education.

One of the main goals of Society 5.0 is to ensure economic prosperity. In this respect, it is necessary to pave the way for economic digitalization, especially for cooperatives and SMEs [25]. According to the OECD Türkiye Economy Report, with an annual inflation rate of 72% in 2022, Türkiye is the country with the worst performance among OECD countries. Heterodox policies implemented in interest rates in Türkiye (reduction to 10%) and significant interventions in exchange rate policies have affected the economy negatively. Furthermore, the changes in the Central Bank Governor made it difficult to determine a regular economic policy and damaged the trust in the economy [26]. In this regard, it is possible to associate the resulting situation with the SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) objectives of Society 5.0. In the light of these data, H3 hypothesis was formed:

H3: 

Society 5.0 has an effect on the economy.

Türkiye ranks 120th out of 214 countries in the 2022 World Bank Government Effectiveness Ranking [27]. Türkiye utilizes the bureaucratic management model in public administration. Attempts were made to develop this model, which is a cumbersome and procedure-intensive approach due to its structural qualities, through the digitalization steps taken as of 2006, but Türkiye is not at the desired level in terms of digitalization according to European Union reports [28]. Performing citizen services digitally will increase citizen service satisfaction and reduce public service costs. There are electronic government applications in Türkiye, but the latest developments indicate that the data in the application are stolen by hackers [29]. Society 5.0 applications ensure such data is kept safe and stored with block chain and artificial intelligence. In this regard, it is possible to associate the resulting situation with the goals of Society 5.0, SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). Considering the OECD Report, H4 hypothesis was formed:

H4: 

Society 5.0 has an effect on public administration.

According to the Rule of Law Index prepared annually by the World Justice Project, Türkiye ranks 117th out of 142. Crime rates in Türkiye are increasing day by day due to the lack of deterrent punishments [30]. Whereas the chief public prosecutor’s offices received approximately 7 million files in 2015, this number increased by 54.6% and exceeded 11 million files in 2023 [31]. A similar situation exists in the international arena as well. According to the report issued by the Turkish Ministry of Justice, 20,100 of the 74,650 applications made to the European Court of Human Rights in 2022 belong to Türkiye [32]. Society 5.0 applications can enable consultancy with judges and prosecutors in the process of quick trial and decision-making with artificial intelligence technology and can also help provide a general understanding of justice with detailed analyses of crime rates and points [33]. In this regard, the resulting situation can be associated with the goals of Society 5.0, SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). H5 hypothesis was formed by considering the Report of the Turkish Ministry of Justice:

H5: 

Society 5.0 has an effect on justice.

It should be pointed out that Türkiye has not reached the desired level of progress in terms of bribery and corruption in the public within the scope of the fight against corruption [34]. The OECD receives data from the organization’s member, the Republic of Türkiye, and there is no hesitation regarding these data. An international index on corruption is published by Transparency International. In the index, countries in which corruption is perceived to be low are at the forefront, whereas countries where corruption is felt to be intense are at the bottom. When examining the 2013 report of the institution, it can be seen that Türkiye ranks 53rd among 177 countries [35]. According to the Transparency International 2023 Report, Türkiye ranks 115th among 180 countries and is a country where corruption is perceived to be intense. When the differences between the reports are considered, it can be observed that some political practices regarding tenders such as roads, hospitals, and airports have increased the perception of corruption in Türkiye in the last decade. It is realized that Transparency International reports are prepared mainly based on the audit reports which have been prepared and announced by the Court of Accounts Institution, which audits public expenditures in Türkiye [36]. Based on this, it is possible to claim that there is an increasing perception of corruption in Türkiye. In order to combat corruption, it is possible to identify risky areas with Society 5.0 applications and to help prevent corruption by digitizing the applications and making use of smart contracts and artificial intelligence technologies. In this respect, the resulting situation can be associated with the goals of Society 5.0, SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). Taking the OECD Report into consideration, H6 hypothesis was formed:

H6: 

Society 5.0 has an effect on the fight against corruption.

Policies have a great influence on education, economy, public administration, justice, and corruption [37,38,39]. This influence can be felt positively or negatively. The effectiveness of the policy variable on other variables is based on real-life applications. Politics can simply be defined as the path and method followed by states to achieve their goals. Many factors such as the opening of new universities, the closure of existing ones, or the duration of compulsory education are elements of government policies in the field of education [40]. Many issues such as incentives and tax practices for economic development are an integral part of policies. The change in corruption rates in Türkiye has also taken place as a result of a policy. To put it briefly, Türkiye is a country where the niche innovation theory, in which the decisions taken by a small group influence the whole country, is experienced positively or negatively. In this respect, unfortunately, politics have an impact on the fate of a whole country [41]. Based on this generally valid assumption, the following hypotheses were formed:

H7: 

Policies have an effect on education.

H8: 

Policies have an effect on the economy.

H9: 

Policies have an effect on public administration.

H10: 

Policies have an effect on justice.

H11: 

Policies have an effect on the fight against corruption.

Society 5.0 is not only a political, ideological, and local concept developed by Japan, but also a philosophy that can be utilized for the wellbeing of the whole world [10]. Although Society 5.0 has a political aspect, it is observed that it also requires many human-centered structures such as technology, education, the economy, and public administration for its realization [42]. Ensuring transformation in society requires the development of policies in different areas [17]. Business, the environment, education, the, economy, public administration, and justice issues, in accordance with the new individual needs and the needs of society, must also be digitalized and these skills must be learned by individuals [43]. Bearing this in mind, the following hypotheses were formed:

H12: 

Country policies have a mediating effect on the impact of Society 5.0 on education.

H13: 

Country policies have a mediating effect on the impact of Society 5.0 on the economy.

H14: 

Country policies have a mediating effect on the impact of Society 5.0 on public administration.

H15: 

Country policies have a mediating effect on the impact of Society 5.0 on justice.

H16: 

Country policies have a mediating effect on the impact of Society 5.0 on the fight against corruption.

The hypotheses were formed based on niche innovation and convergent stakeholder theories. Convergent stakeholder theory [44] is a theory that recommends determining both the moral reliability and feasibility of stakeholder relationships [45]. This theory was preferred because it was suitable for the scope of this study since the structure of Society 5.0 encourages technology, innovation, ethical and sustainable practices, infrastructure systems, and concerns about citizen participation [46]. Niche innovation theory [41] is helpful in terms of resolving disagreements about which areas institutional reforms should be directed at. In this respect, it brings to the fore the view of whether global or local preferences will be effective; or whether it will cover a general or a local area. At this point, niche innovation theory offers an analysis structure in which political understandings come to the fore, which states that the structure in question will be useful in solving sophisticated problems [47].

3. Materials and Methods

In this study, the quantitative analysis method was practiced through the survey technique. While creating the survey questions, Society 5.0 expressions were taken from the survey prepared by Zengin et al. [6]; other questions were formed by the authors through thematic analysis and in accordance with the literature. For the questions formed, five professors and three associate professors who are experts in their fields were consulted and the survey was finalized. The survey questions are presented in Appendix A.

In order to carry out the study, Ethics Committee Permission was obtained from Kafkas University Ethics Committee, dated 8 May 2024 and numbered 58. The study was conducted using the convenience sampling method in various provinces of Türkiye. For the sample in question, survey forms were primarily filled out in the provinces where the authors were located such as Istanbul, Van, Kars, Samsun, Adana, and Osmaniye. Concerns regarding generalizability were particularly effective in forming this structure. Research data were collected between 9 May 2024 and 10 June 2024. The concept of the Türkiye Century has appeared in media organizations, billboards, official institutions, and correspondence, in short everywhere, since 28 October 2022. People may have limited knowledge about its content, but it is not the case that they have not heard of the concept. In the selection of the sample, the participants were first asked whether they knew about both concepts. The survey was continued with those who said they did, while the survey was ended for those who said they did not [48]. For this reason, the education level in demographic variables is seen to be predominantly undergraduate level and above. In order to reduce regional impacts, data were collected from Samsun, one of Türkiye’s northern provinces, Adana and Osmaniye from the southern provinces, Istanbul, one of the western provinces, and Kars and Van from the eastern provinces. In total, 407 people were reached through Google Forms within the scope of the research. This number has the ability to represent the sample size [49]. The obtained data were interpreted by using structural equation modeling with the Smart-PLS program. The confirmatory factor analysis with IBM AMOS version 24 was also applied on the model. Factor loading values of the scale items are expected to be above 0.50. To ensure validity and reliability, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and composite reliability (CR and rho_A) must be over 0.70 and the average variance extracted (AVE) value must be over 0.50 [50]. Information on the reliability and validity of the scales is illustrated in Appendix A. Moreover, the scales meet the Fornell–Larcker discriminant validity criteria.

4. Results

Within the scope of the study, 407 people were reached, and the majority of the participants consist of male participants (61.90%). It was found that the participation of young and middle-aged individuals was high. In terms of education, the number of participants with a bachelor’s degree (45%) was higher. It is possible to say that the preferred sample in terms of income is predominantly civil servants. Information on the demographic variables is illustrated in

Table 1. Demographical Variables.

Demographic	Items	N	%
Gender	Female	155	38.10
	Male	252	61.90
Age	Between the ages of 18 and 25	68	16.70
	Between the ages of 26 and 30	81	19.90
	Between the ages of 31 and 35	94	23.10
	Between the ages of 36 and 40	83	20.40
	Between the ages of 41 and 45	57	14.00
	Between the ages of 46 and 55	24	5.90
Education	High school and below	45	11.00
	Associate degree	67	16.50
	Bachelor’s degree	183	45.00
	Postgraduate degree	112	27.50
Monthly Income	Between 15,000 and 20,000 TL	59	14.50
	Between 20,001 and 30,000 TL	76	18.70
	Between 30,001 and 40,000 TL	101	24.80
	Between 40,001 and 50,000 TL	108	26.50
	50,001 TL and over	63	15.50

.

Structural equation modeling was utilized in the study. The study model is presented in Figure 1.

As a result of the confirmatory factor analysis applied on the model with the AMOS program, the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) value was found to be 0.079 while the comparative fit index (CFI) value was 0.919. Additionally, the Tucker–Lewis Index (TLI) value was 0.907 and the root mean square residual (RMR) value was 0.052. All these values indicate suitability for the analysis [49]. It can be seen in

Table 2. Goodness of Fit Values.

Model Fit
	Saturated Model	Estimated Model
SRMR	0.066	0.114
d_ULS	1.905	5.643
d_G	0.782	1.068
Chi-Square	1,852,007	2,246,930
NFI	0.841	0.807

that the model provides goodness of fit values. Due to the sample and scale items used, the root mean square residual (SRMR) value is less than 0.080 and the normed fit index (NFI) value is greater than 0.80, which indicates a good fit of the model [51].

After the model was found to be suitable for analysis, hypothesis tests were performed. The values for the hypothesis tests are presented in

Table 3. Hypotheses Tests.

Paths	Estimate	Standard Deviation	t Values	p	VAF Values	Hypothesis
Society 5.0 -> Politics	0.367	0.050	7.288	0.000	-	H1 Accept
Society 5.0 -> Education	0.334	0.041	8.183	0.000	-	H2 Accept
Society 5.0 -> Economy	0.201	0.038	5.247	0.000	-	H3 Accept
Society 5.0 -> Public Administration	0.067	0.032	2.126	0.034	-	H4 Accept
Society 5.0 -> Justice	0.069	0.032	2.162	0.031	-	H5 Accept
Society 5.0 -> Corruption	0.023	0.032	0.712	0.476	-	H6 Rejection *
Politics -> Education	0.505	0.044	11.416	0.000	-	H7 Accept
Politics -> Economy	0.647	0.048	13.596	0.000	-	H8 Accept
Politics -> Public Administration	0.780	0.034	23.071	0.000	-	H9 Accept
Politics -> Justice	0.807	0.030	26.849	0.000	-	H10 Accept
Politics -> Corruption	0.838	0.039	21.401	0.000	-	H11 Accept
Society 5.0 -> Politics -> Education	0.185	0.033	5.652	0.000	0.357	H12 Accept
Society 5.0 -> Politics -> Economy	0.238	0.041	5.826	0.000	0.542	H13 Accept
Society 5.0 -> Politics -> Public Administration	0.286	0.044	6.485	0.000	0.810	H14 Accept
Society 5.0 -> Politics -> Justice	0.296	0.044	6.695	0.000	0.811	H15 Accept
Society 5.0 -> Politics -> Corruption	0.307	0.048	6.396	0.000	0.830	H16 Accept

* The effect of 0.330 between Society 5.0 and the Fight against Corruption became insignificant, decreasing to 0.023 through the full mediation role of the policy.

.

In PLS applications, the variance accounted for (VAF) calculation is utilized instead of the Sobel test, which measures the significance of mediation [50]. As can be seen in Table 3, the VAF value is quite high and within the desired limits [52]. The study indicates that Society 5.0 provides an opportunity to expand in such a way as to involve all countries thanks to its structure referring to the SDGs. In accordance with the close stakeholder theory, citizens are observed to accept moral and applicable methods specifically for Society 5.0. As a result of the analyses, partial mediation was observed in H12, H13, H14, and H15, while full mediation was found in H16.

R² and Q² values among the scales related to the analysis provide information about the quality of the scales and analysis. The Q² value being above zero is regarded as a quality indicator [53]. The relevant values are displayed in

Table 4. R² and Q² Test Results.

Latent Variable	R2	R2 Adj.	Q2
Corruption	0.716	0.715	0.659
Economy	0.555	0.553	0.434
Education	0.491	0.488	0.293
Justice	0.697	0.696	0.530
Politics	0.135	0.132	0.104
Public Administration	0.652	0.650	0.491

.

In light of the findings obtained, the analysis can be stated to be significant and reliable in terms of the reference statistical limits [49]. The findings reveal that policies have a mediating effect on the impact of Society 5.0 on education, economy, public administration, justice, and corruption. For this reason, all the hypotheses except H6 were accepted in the model.

5. Discussion and Conclusions

Türkiye is a country that has been trying to eradicate the middle-income trap for many years and wishes to transform its qualities and potential into global value in many fields (i.e., demography, geography, geopolitics, etc.). Therefore, it was the “100th Anniversary of the Republic” until a few years ago and it is now making development attempts with national and global targets through its “Türkiye Century” strategies. However, it is noted that the desired level of progress cannot be achieved due to some significant issues such as in relation to education, justice, and the economy in those attempts [2]. This study sought to make some suggestions in order to contribute to our country’s success in terms of reaching the desired level and establishing itself among the leading countries. In this study, in order to associate the concept of the Turkish Century with the Society 5.0 strategy, hypotheses were formed by using convergent stakeholder and niche innovation theories on the basis of OECD and European Union reports and national public institutions data, and these problems were analyzed with the data obtained from the participants.

All the hypotheses formed within the scope of the study were accepted except for H6. It is thought that the main reason why the H6 hypothesis (Society 5.0 has an effect on the fight against corruption) is not accepted is the political depth of the concept in this hypothesis. Political reasons are highlighted in the European Union Progress Report [21] as well. There are so many examples of corruption in Türkiye that it can be seen that most of the time no action is taken even though the situation is reflected in the Court of Accounts Reports and takes the form of a criminal complaint. The issue stems entirely from political reasons and the lack of capability of the justice system. However, the fight against corruption is not hopeless. Niche innovation theory can enable weak demands from the public to grow and become a main idea by applying them in niche areas, repeating them, and attracting more participants. In this regard, it is expected that Society 5.0 will emerge as a main idea by affecting policies and be a hope for the fight against corruption [54]. In light of other hypotheses, it can be seen that Society 5.0 has the potential to create significant change, primarily by influencing policies. It has been found that Society 5.0 will be effective in terms of using artificial intelligence technologies in the field of education and ensuring equality of opportunity [23]. Moreover, it has been determined that Society 5.0 can create effective results in terms of reducing unemployment and creating compatible policies in the fight against inflation [25]. It is proved that the Society 5.0 strategy can be effective in terms of making appointments based on merit in public administration and digitalizing the public [55]. In addition, Society 5.0 has been shown to provide benefits in terms of ensuring justice, making the right decisions, and carrying out the process faster with artificial intelligence [56]. The study reveals that Society 5.0 has an impact on all variables and can contribute to the Türkiye Century strategy in terms of solving the problems experienced. The results obtained from this study are found to be compatible with the literature and the elements determined theoretically in the literature are supported by the research.

Even Japan, which is well-known for its use of advanced technology, has some adaptation problems regarding technology [12]. The study does not fully explain how Türkiye will actually move into Society 5.0, which requires advanced technology. Fast and effective public steps should be taken in terms of technological transformation by learning from practices that were launched at the right time but somehow did not lead to the desired effect, such as the “e-Transformation project” initiated in our country in 2003, which has still not reached the desired level. In this transformation process, which may take years, support can be received from technologically advanced countries (such as Japan). It is known that there is a negative reaction in public opinion towards artificial intelligence in general. This negative reaction results from concerns that people’s physical and intellectual freedoms will be restricted, as well as from employment concerns [57]. Unfortunately, when Türkiye’s weakness in data privacy and security is taken into consideration, a serious problem can be expected to arise. However, it should also be noted that the public remains unresponsive to the digital violations and deficiencies that occur in Türkiye [29]. This study was conducted with a limited sample and was only cross-sectional. For this reason, applying a relatively small sample size limits the generalizability of the study.

Issues such as the turmoil in the Middle East, where Türkiye is located, migration from Syria, uncertainties in Iraq and Ukraine, and the COVID-19 pandemic experienced in the process of achieving the goals have also made it difficult to solve the current problems of our society. Bearing this in mind, analyzing these issues in future studies will contribute to the field.