How Erdoğan's "national machine" came to dominate Turkish politics | EUROPP

How Erdoğan’s “national machine” came to dominate Turkish politics Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been the leading figure in Turkish politics for over two decades. Drawing on a new study, Murat Somer and Toygar Sinan Baykan explain how a series of socioeconomic changes laid the foundations for his rise to power. Turkey’s general election in May last year produced another victory for Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP). Against the background of an economic crisis and the aftermath of a devastating earthquake, this outcome was deeply disappointing for the opposition, who had been optimistic after joining forces against Erdoğan by coordinating their candidates and campaign strategies before the election. More:How Erdoğan's "national machine" came to dominate Turkish politics | EUROPP