AKP as political and social center

Abstract

This study examines the structure of Turkish party system based on center-periphery and state-religion cleavage analytical categories and it tries to describe how it has changed along Justice and Development Party’s ten years government. The paper argues that, despite its avowedly Islamic background, Justice and Development Party has proved to adapt and transform itself and Turkish system by presenting itself to the public as a successful centerright party, which supports democracy, secularism, human rights and economic development. Based on Rokkan’s state-religion model it concludes that under AKP Turkish political and social center, once strongly divided on, may finally overlap. Although there are still some challenges in front to deal with, the ongoing dynamics lead by AKP have to be considered as a crucial transformation since they sign the new direction of Turkish politics.