Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s rise to power in Turkey was a complex journey marked by political, economic, and social changes in the country. His success can be attributed to a combination of strategic alliances, populist appeal, and his ability to navigate Turkey's political landscape, including overcoming significant challenges. Here's a detailed look at how Erdoğan gained power:
Early Life and Political Beginnings:
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Background and Early Involvement in Politics: Erdoğan was born in 1954 in Istanbul and came from a working-class family. He was initially involved in sports, but his political journey began in the late 1970s, when he became active in Turkey’s Islamist political circles. He was a member of the National Salvation Party, founded by Necmettin Erbakan, an Islamist politician who would later become Turkey's prime minister.
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Rising in Politics: Erdoğan first gained national attention as the mayor of Istanbul from 1994 to 1998. As mayor, he earned a reputation for reducing corruption, improving infrastructure, and addressing the city’s chronic problems like traffic congestion. His performance in Istanbul helped build his popularity among ordinary Turks.
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Jailing and Political Evolution (1999-2002): Erdoğan’s political career took a dramatic turn in 1999. He was jailed for four months for inciting religious hatred after publicly reading a poem with Islamist themes. While in prison, Erdoğan's political strategy evolved, and he began to frame himself as a more moderate, pragmatic leader who could unite Turkey’s diverse political and cultural groups. His prison sentence ended up building his image as a victim of the establishment, a key factor in his rise.
Founding the AKP and 2002 Elections:
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Formation of the AKP (2001): After his release from prison, Erdoğan and his allies founded the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2001. The AKP was a break from the traditional Islamist parties in Turkey, adopting a more moderate stance while still drawing from Turkey's conservative, religious base. Erdoğan and the AKP marketed themselves as reformists who would modernize Turkey while respecting its Islamic values.
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2002 Parliamentary Elections: In the 2002 parliamentary elections, just a year after the AKP was formed, the party achieved a stunning victory, securing nearly 34% of the vote and winning 66% of the seats in the Turkish parliament. This landslide victory allowed Erdoğan to gain a significant political mandate. However, due to his previous conviction, Erdoğan was not immediately allowed to take office as prime minister.
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Rise to Prime Minister (2003): Despite being banned from office due to his criminal conviction, Erdoğan managed to maneuver around the legal barrier. He was elected as a member of parliament in a 2003 by-election, which allowed him to assume the role of prime minister. His rise to prime minister was seen as a triumph for the AKP and a sign of his political savvy.
Erdoğan's Time as Prime Minister (2003-2014):
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Economic Growth and Reforms: As prime minister, Erdoğan’s government oversaw significant economic growth, which helped him consolidate support from a broad segment of Turkish society. Under his leadership, Turkey's economy improved, inflation was reduced, and foreign investment surged. His government also implemented democratic reforms aimed at improving Turkey’s prospects of joining the European Union (EU), which earned him support from secularists and liberals as well as conservatives.
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Consolidating Power: Erdoğan's AKP maintained a strong electoral base by focusing on issues that resonated with Turkey’s conservative, religious, and rural populations. He championed conservative values while also implementing economic and social policies that appealed to urban, middle-class citizens. Over time, he grew increasingly authoritarian, centralizing power within the executive branch, weakening the military’s influence, and curbing the powers of the judiciary.
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Handling Opposition and Rising Authoritarianism: Erdoğan’s increasing control over Turkey’s political institutions and media, along with his moves to suppress opposition, set the stage for a more authoritarian form of governance. The AKP also began to face criticism for limiting freedoms, especially after the 2013 Gezi Park protests, which Erdoğan saw as an attempt by the elite to undermine his government.
The Presidency and Transition to an Executive System (2014-Present):
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2014 Presidential Election: Erdoğan transitioned from being prime minister to president in 2014. Under Turkey’s constitution, the presidency was largely a ceremonial role, but Erdoğan’s goal was to transform the office into a powerful executive position. In the 2014 presidential election, he won with 51.8% of the vote, marking the beginning of his presidency.
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2017 Constitutional Referendum: In 2017, Erdoğan pushed for a controversial constitutional referendum to change Turkey’s political system from a parliamentary to a presidential system. The referendum was narrowly approved, and the changes granted Erdoğan sweeping powers, effectively allowing him to rule by decree and consolidate even more authority in the executive branch. Critics claimed that this move was a step toward authoritarian rule.
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2016 Coup Attempt and Consolidation of Power: A significant turning point in Erdoğan’s rule came in July 2016, when a faction of the military attempted a coup against his government. The coup was quickly thwarted, but Erdoğan used the failed coup as a pretext to initiate a widespread purge of the military, judiciary, civil service, and academia. Tens of thousands of people were arrested, dismissed from their jobs, or detained. Erdoğan framed the coup attempt as part of a broader struggle to protect democracy from internal enemies, consolidating his power even further.
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2018 Election and Continued Dominance: In 2018, Erdoğan was re-elected as president under the new executive system. The elections were marred by accusations of unfair practices, suppression of opposition media, and restrictions on political freedoms. However, Erdoğan’s dominance in Turkish politics remained largely unchallenged, and he maintained strong support from his core base, especially among conservative and religious Turks.
Conclusion:
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gained power in Turkey through a combination of grassroots political appeal, economic management, and strategic use of political crises. He successfully transitioned from being the leader of an Islamist party to a political figure who could unite diverse segments of the population. Over time, Erdoğan has consolidated power through legal reforms, a shift to an executive presidential system, and the suppression of opposition. His ability to present himself as both a modernizer and defender of traditional values has allowed him to remain a dominant force in Turkish politics.
