Turkey’s Two Elections: The AKP Comes Back

Issue Date April 2016
Volume 27
Issue 2
Page Numbers 141-154
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2015 was a remarkable year in Turkish politics. Against the backdrop of continuing regional turmoil, Turkey held not one but two national elections. In June, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan seemed badly shaken when it lost its parliamentary majority and struggled to form a government. But the AKP staged a surprising comeback in November, regaining its parliamentary majority. Turkey’s status as a hybrid political regime appears unstable. Turkey has the potential to move either in a liberal-democratic direction or toward competitive authoritarianism. Through an analysis of Turkey’s twin elections of 2015, the author evaluates the future of its political regime.

About the Author

Ziya Öniş is professor of international political economy and former director of the Center for Research on Globalization, Peace, and Democratic Governance (GLODEM) at Koç University in Istanbul.

View all work by Ziya Öniş