The AKP and Political Transformation of Turkey


Abstract
The accession of the AKP to the power, by gaining 34. 4 % of the vote and 365 seats marked the beginning of a new era in the Turkish politics. For the first time in the contemporary Turkish politics a pro-Islamic party could govern alone with the old-fashioned Kemalist party Republican People’s Party (CHP) in opposition. In its serious attempt to restructure Turkish politics, AKP kept the Turkish military one of the most important Kemalist bastions in Turkey at a bay. The Turkish military has traditionally been against falling political power in pro-Islamic parties’ hands. So the new scenario raised some question about its secular credentials within some Kemalist and foreign circles alike. A fear of radical changes that may compromise the secular character of the State emerged from different corners. Thus this paper would focus on the evolution of Turkey as a modern nation state. It is necessary to have a glimpse of the history of Turkey as it would make us understand the Turkish policies and postures whether in the domestic or foreign affairs. It would try to analyze that how much contemporary Turkey has been transformed than that visualized by Kemal Ataturk, founder of the republic. As per his vision, Islam and politics were anathema, both cannot go together. However, in today’s Turkey, Islam has become the dominant discourse in the politics. This paper scrutiny and explain the factors which brought about such significant changes in Turkey.

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