POPULISM, CONCENTRATION OF POWER, AND STRATEGIC AUTONOMY: THE POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION OF TÜRKIYE UNDER ERDOĞAN
Abstract
This article analyzes how the transformation of the Turkish domestic political order under Erdoğan has been articulated with Türkiye's pursuit of greater strategic autonomy. It investigates the relationship between the consolidation of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), the concentration of executive power, and the reorientation of Turkish foreign policy. The research adopts a qualitative, historical-explanatory approach based on a case study of Türkiye from 2001 to 2025, complemented by process tracing. The findings indicate that the crisis of the Kemalist order facilitated the rise of the AKP, while the subsequent reduction of domestic veto constraints expanded the executive’s decision-making room. This transformation occurred alongside the diversification of external partnerships, the adoption of decisions diverging from the preferences of traditional allies, and the development of capabilities to sustain such choices. The study concludes that domestic political transformation contributed to expanding the conditions for Türkiye’s pursuit of strategic autonomy, in interaction with opportunities generated by a changing international order.