Over the past two decades, Turkey has undergone a profound political transformation under the rule of the Justice and Development Party (AKP). What initially appeared to be a process of liberalization, civilianization, and democratization slowly gave way to Islamism, populism, and authoritarianism. How can we understand this political shift, and what does it tell us about the future of Turkish politics?
The lecture ends at 13:40. It is not possible to leave the room earlier.
The AKP came to power in 2002 and continues to govern under President Erdoğan. When the AKP first assumed power, it set out to dismantle the existing Kemalist establishment. Two decades later, however, the outcome is not greater democracy, but rather deepening authoritarianism. This intensified in March of this year with the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, considered the main political opponent of Erdoğan. His imprisonment sparked widespread protests and arrests, including among students.
In this lecture, political historian Alp Yenen explores the trajectory of Turkey’s transformation, examining both its historical roots and contemporary dynamics. He analyzes the shifting coalitions, ideological realignments, and institutional ruptures that have shaped the emergence of the “New Turkey”, as well as the growing opposition and resistance to it.
Dr. Alp Yenen is a university lecturer at the Institute for Area Studies, Leiden University. His primary research focuses on the political history of modern Turkey and the Middle East. Together with Erik-Jan Zürcher, he has co-edited A Hundred Years of Republican Turkey: A History in a Hundred Fragments (Leiden University Press, 2023).
This lecture is organized in collaboration with the Turkish Student Association Eindhoven.
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