Editing Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, AKP

The Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, AKP) is Turkey’s largest political party, in power since 2002. Self-described as conservative-democratic, it is often characterized by third-party sources as national conservative, socially conservative, right-wing populist, and neo-Ottomanist, with some labeling it far-right since 2011. Led by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has been chairman since 2017 and Turkey’s president since 2014, the AKP dominates Turkish politics, holding 272 of 600 seats in the Grand National Assembly as of the 2023 election, where it won 35.6% of the vote. Below is a detailed overview of the AKP’s history, ideology, controversies, and recent developments, with a critical perspective on its role in Turkey.

==History and Formation==
Origins (2001): The AKP was founded on August 14, 2001, by reformist politicians, including Erdoğan (former Istanbul mayor, 1994–1998) and Abdullah Gül, who broke from the banned Islamist Virtue Party (Fazilet Partisi). The Virtue Party itself succeeded the Welfare Party (Refah Partisi), banned in 1998 for anti-secular activities. Unlike its predecessors, the AKP positioned itself as a “conservative-democratic” movement, distancing from overt Islamism to appeal to a broader electorate and avoid legal bans. The name “AK” (meaning “white” or “clean” in Turkish) symbolized a fresh start.

Early Success (2002–2007): The AKP swept the 2002 parliamentary elections with 34.3% of the vote, securing 363 of 550 seats due to Turkey’s 10% electoral threshold, which excluded smaller parties. Erdoğan, initially barred from office due to a 1998 conviction for reciting an Islamist poem, became prime minister in 2003 after a constitutional amendment. The party capitalized on public frustration with coalition governments, economic crises, and secularist elites, promising economic liberalization and EU integration. It won subsequent elections in 2007 (46.6%) and 2011 (49.8%), solidifying its dominance.

Electoral Resilience: The AKP has won pluralities in seven consecutive legislative elections (2002, 2007, 2011, June 2015, November 2015, 2018, 2023) and led in local elections (2004, 2009, 2014), though it faced setbacks in 2019 and 2024. It held a parliamentary majority for 13 years but lost it in June 2015, regained it in November 2015, and lost it again in 2018, relying on alliances since.

==Ideology and Policies==
Conservative-Democratic Roots: The AKP initially framed itself as a pro-Western, pro-market party, akin to European Christian Democratic parties, emphasizing economic reform, civil rights, and EU membership. It moderated its Islamist roots to navigate Turkey’s secular constitution, which prohibits parties promoting Islamism or sharia.

Populism and Personalism: Scholars like Toygar Sinan Baykan describe the AKP as a “personalistic mass party,” with Erdoğan’s charismatic leadership central to its appeal. It has consistently positioned itself as the defender of Turkey’s downtrodden, using “low populist” rhetoric to reach economically and culturally marginalized groups, particularly in rural and conservative regions.

Social Conservatism: The AKP promotes traditional values, reflected in policies like tighter abortion regulations (2012) and higher alcohol taxes, which critics argue undermine secularism. Erdoğan’s 2017 statement that LGBT rights are “against the values of our nation” and anti-LGBT remarks by party officials, like Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu’s 2021 comment calling gay people “perverts,” have drawn accusations of hate speech and secularism violations.

Neo-Ottomanism and Nationalism: Since 2011, the AKP has embraced neo-Ottomanist rhetoric, emphasizing Turkey’s historical and regional influence, often aligned with nationalist policies. Its alliance with the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) since 2016, formalized as the People’s Alliance, reflects a shift toward authoritarian nationalism, particularly after the 2016 coup attempt.

Economic Policy: Initially praised for economic growth (averaging 5% GDP annually from 2002–2011), the AKP oversaw infrastructure projects and privatization. However, recent economic challenges, including a 75.52% rise in property prices in 2023 and a devalued Turkish lira, have eroded middle- and lower-class support, contributing to electoral losses.

==Controversies and Criticisms==
Secularism Disputes: The AKP has faced accusations of covert Islamism, threatening Turkey’s secular constitution. Key flashpoints include:
2002 Closure Case: Chief Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoğlu sought to ban the AKP before the 2002 election, citing Erdoğan’s 1998 conviction. The case failed, but it highlighted tensions over the party’s Islamist roots.

2008 Closure Case: Triggered by the AKP’s push to lift a university headscarf ban, Chief Prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalçınkaya charged the party with anti-secular activities. The Constitutional Court narrowly rejected closure (6–11 votes, 7 needed) but cut 50% of its state funding, with 10 judges agreeing the AKP was a “center for anti-secular activities.”

Headscarf Debate: Erdoğan’s 2008 defense of headscarves as a potential “political symbol” sparked fears of creeping Islamization, though supporters argued it was a matter of personal freedom.

Authoritarianism: Since Erdoğan’s 2014 presidential election and the 2017 constitutional shift to a presidential system, the AKP has been criticized for consolidating power. Actions include media censorship (e.g., blocking VPNs before 2024 elections), judicial interference, and arresting opposition figures like Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu in 2025 on charges his supporters claim are politically motivated.

Corruption Scandals: The 2013 corruption investigation implicated AKP officials, including Erdoğan’s inner circle, in bribery and money laundering. All 52 detainees were AKP-connected, though Erdoğan dismissed the probe as a “judicial coup.”

Kurdish and Minority Rights: The AKP initially courted Kurdish voters with peace talks (2009–2011), but its post-2016 nationalist turn alienated them. In 2024, the AKP ousted three elected pro-Kurdish DEM Party mayors, replacing them with state-appointed trustees, sparking protests.

Economic Mismanagement: The lira’s decline and inflation (nearing 70% in 2023) have hit the AKP’s base hard. Posts on X and analyses like Al Jazeera’s highlight voter frustration with income inequality and poverty, with 10% of Turks earning below $6.85 daily in 2024.

==Recent Developments==
(2023–2025)

2023 Elections: The AKP won 35.6% in the May 2023 parliamentary election, securing 268 seats (272 as of 2025 due to defections), but relied on the MHP to maintain a majority. Erdoğan won the presidential runoff, extending his rule to 2028. The party faced criticism for fielding no female candidates in 30 provinces, raising gender equity concerns.

2024 Local Elections: The AKP suffered major losses, losing mayoral races in four of Turkey’s largest cities, including Istanbul, to the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). Erdoğan reportedly called the results a “loss of the party’s soul,” blaming internal arrogance and disconnect from voters. The defeats, particularly in growth centers, signaled a strengthening opposition.

2025 Challenges: The arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu in April 2025, followed by protests and clashes, intensified accusations of political repression. Erdoğan’s tightened internet censorship, including VPN bans, aimed to control narratives before future elections. Turkish Cypriot protests in May 2025 criticized the AKP for introducing Islam into education, reflecting regional tensions.

Party Splinters: Discontent led to defections, with former AKP heavyweights like Ahmet Davutoğlu forming the Future Party (2019) and Ali Babacan launching the Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA) (2020). Both advocate a parliamentary system and align with opposition efforts to unseat Erdoğan.

In Paul Williams' book, [[Operation Gladio]], he notes that Turkey, under the leadership of [[Fethullah Gulen]] Turkey was transformed from a secular state into a nations with eighty five thousand mosques, the highest number per capita in the world with ninety thousand imams. There are thousands of state run Islamic schools. Turkey also has the largest military outside of the US, within [[NATO]] and the largest Operation Gladio network in NATO primarily consisting of the Grey Wolves. The reign of terror within Turkey saw the arrests of AKP opponents including the arrests of a dozen middle aged liberal women who worked for the Society for Contemporary Life. The Society for Contemporary Life provided educational services for poor teenage girls. "Hundreds of others were taken into custody during midnight raids, including military officers, renowned journalists and artists. According to Newsweek, the arrest illustrate the power of Gulen tarikat (Islamic order) which now controls the government." The US State Department authorized Gulen to immigrate to the US (Pennsylavania) where he is currently building up the same infrastructure inside the US.