Political Geography: Turkey / Author: Al Jazeera Center for Studies

Author:: Al Jazeera Center for Studies
Publication Date:: 04-2014
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Al Jazeera Center for Studies
Abstract:: Turkey’s local elections were held Sunday, March 30, 2014 under what can be considered turbulent political circumstances. These elections were key for a number of reasons: they were the third ones in which the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) participated in since its ascent to power in 2002, the large margin by which the AKP won and finally, because a great number of regional and international players considered the elections a test of the AKP and its president’s worthiness and benefit. Presidential elections will also be held in August of this year, and current leader of the AKP and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will continue to face challenges given a severely polarised political atmosphere in the country. This is particularly true given that the presidential position he strives for is seen in Turkey’s political culture as a unifying national position distant from partisan squabbles.
Topic:: Elections, Domestic Politics, Political Parties, and Political System
Political Geography:: Turkey and Middle East

Author:: Al Jazeera Center for Studies
Publication Date:: 05-2014
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Al Jazeera Center for Studies
Abstract:: There are several scenarios proposed as analysts examine Turkey’s upcoming presidential race. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) recently enjoyed a victory in local elections, and it is highly likely that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will capitalize on this victory by running for Turkey’s presidency in August. This is the first time in the Turkish republic’s history that the president will be elected by a direct vote of the of the people rather than by the parliament. This paper addresses several questions that would follow any announcement by Erdogan stating his intention to run for the presidency. First, there is the question of Gul’s fate if Erdogan will run for the presidency and whether or not some type of deal will be negotiated on the exchange of roles between the two. Second, there is a question of whether or not Erdogan will win the presidency in the first round of voting or be forced to a second round of voting in which all opposition parties will rally behind a single candidate. Finally, there is a question of what kind of president Erdogan will be if he wins and the nature of the presidency Turkey will see in the coming years.
Topic:: Politics, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Presidential Elections
Political Geography:: Turkey and Middle East

Author:: Al Jazeera Center for Studies
Publication Date:: 07-2014
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Al Jazeera Center for Studies
Abstract:: Turkey’s presidential elections on 10 August 2014 will not only be the country’s first direct election for the presidency, but also the first election with no candidate from the traditional Kemalist party. There are currently three candidates in the running: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, jointly nominated by the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and Salahuddin Dimirtash, co-chair of the Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP).
Topic:: Domestic Politics, Kurds, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Presidential Elections
Political Geography:: Turkey and Middle East

Author:: Al Jazeera Center for Studies
Publication Date:: 08-2014
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Al Jazeera Center for Studies
Abstract:: Recep Tayyip Erdogan was sworn in as Turkey’s president on 28 August 2014. The day before, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) agreed to nominate one person, Ahmet Davutoglu, to take Erdogan’s place as prime minister and party leader. As Turkey’s former foreign minister who was also a superior academic, it is important to examine Davutoglu’s rise to the top position in the Turkish political establishment and government as well as the tasks that lay ahead of him. This position paper examines his journey from academia to politics, why Davutoglu was chosen by Erdogan and the AKP and what he must do to maintain the AKP and Turkish government’s momentum.
Topic:: Government, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Political Parties
Political Geography:: Turkey and Middle East

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