The decline and comeback of center-right parties in Turkey? A comparative perspective
JOURNAL OF ELECTIONS PUBLIC OPINION AND PARTIES, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1080/17457289.2026.2749790
- Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF ELECTIONS PUBLIC OPINION AND PARTIES
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Political Science Complete, Public Affairs Index, Political Science Abstract (IPSA), Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Center-right parties, ideology, justice and development party (AKP), populism, Turkey
- Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Center-right political parties face major electoral challenges in our times, particularly against more extremist, populist parties around the world. However, given their historical roles in contributing to democratization in many cases, center-right parties might again help build less polarized and more pluralistic societies today. Drawing on the political history of center-right parties in the world both theoretically and empirically, this article examines the Turkish case in a comparative light. The article thoroughly examines the supply and demand sides of politics (i.e., parties and voters) in the Turkish case to scrutinize whether it is possible to observe a comeback from center-right parties in the foreseeable future based on several institutional, structural, and agency-related factors. The article argues that the decline of the center-right in Turkey has been mostly supply-driven, not demand-driven. In other words, there has not been a major dealignment of voters along with (or toward) the incumbent's ideological position, but rather a center-right median voter with no viable center-right supply. Based on empirical evidence, the article discusses both challenges and opportunities ahead both for center-right politics and (re-)democratization in Turkey and beyond.