Middle East Focus
Rethinking Democracy Ep. 7: The Protests and Political Crisis Shaping Turkey's Democratic Future
Apr 1, 2025
Dr. Karabekir Akkoyunlu, a research associate at SOAS University of London and author on democratic resistance, and Dr. Senem Aydın Düzgit, a professor at Sabancı University specializing in Turkey-EU relations, delve into Turkey's recent political upheaval. They discuss the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and the surge of protests against Erdoğan's regime. The conversation highlights the erosion of democratic processes, the role of coalition-building among the opposition, and the critical influence of EU relations on Turkey's autocratic shift.
56:45
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Quick takeaways
- Turkey's mass protests following the arrest of opposition leader Ekrem İmamoğlu reveal a significant demand for accountability and political engagement among citizens.
- The effectiveness of the CHP in forming a broad coalition against autocracy highlights the importance of unity among diverse political factions in Turkey's future democracy.
Deep dives
Erdogan's Autocratic System
Erdogan has constructed a highly centralized autocratic system in Turkey, characterized by a significant lack of separation of powers and extensive control over the media. His personalized presidential regime features a weakened parliament and a judiciary that serves the government's interests, allowing for the persecution of political opponents. Analysts highlight that while Erdogan has not fully entrenched himself as an autocrat like Putin in Russia, he has employed similar tactics in attempting to consolidate power. However, Turkey possesses a more vibrant opposition and a historical legacy of democracy that presents challenges to the complete suppression of dissent.
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