Turkey at the Polls: A New Path Emerges

Abstract: Turkey's economic and political system has been confronted with major challenges during the course of the 1990s. These challenges originating from economic crises, state-centric model of development, European integration and the problems of democratization have brought Turkey to crossroads. In this context, the November 3rd national election was of utmost importance in the determination of Turkey's future course of democratization. The AKP has won the election and formed a single majority government. In the present article, we try to provide a sociological and political economy-based analysis of the election and the origins of the AKP's unprecedented success. We have attempted to highlight the possible domestic and foreign policy-oriented challenges confronted by the AKP. In doing so, we have argued that the possibility of democratic consolidation in Turkey lies in the success of the AKP to cope effectively with these challenges.