Turkey’s progress towards autocracy

Following the pressures of the First World War, a new nation, The Republic of Türkiye, was born from the dissolving Ottoman Empire. The country has followed an incredible story of political evolution from a single-party state to multi-party elections. However, since the election of Tayyip Erdoğan, Türkiye has seen a regression back to autocracy.

By the early 20th century, the Ottoman Empire was on decline, often referred to as “the sick man of Europe”. Following defeat in WWI, the empire was carved up by the Allied powers under the 1920 Treaty of Sevres. Large portions were given to France, Britain, and Greece, and independent nations such as Armenia and Kurdistan were created. The treaty became deeply unpopular, giving rise to the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1923) led by military officer Mustafa Kemal. Kemal would later be known as the notorious leader – Atatürk, meaning ‘Father of the Turks’. He eventually drove out foreigners and in 1923, the Republic of Türkiye was proclaimed, with the nation’s capital placed in Ankara.

While there was progress, Türkiye’s population remained largely rural and poor and were often religiously and politically oppressed

The newly-born nation took on a new system of government. The traditional Ottoman Sultanate structure was abolished in favour of Atatürk becoming the country’s first president. Under his leadership, a wave of radical reforms were introduced, aiming to modernise the country and make a clear break from the Ottoman past. The state became a secular system, modelling itself on European models rather than Islamic Sharia law. Women were given equal rights, a radical notion at the time, including the right to vote and stand for office. Türkiye prioritised women long before any European countries did. An effort was also made to educate the population, with mass literacy drives and the establishment of ‘people’s houses’ (schools). To further break with the Ottoman tradition, certain forms of clothing such as the fez were outlawed or actively discouraged and the Latin alphabet was introduced. While there was progress, Türkiye’s population remained largely rural and poor and were often religiously and politically oppressed.

Despite radical reforms to create a more modern nation, Türkiye remained under the single-party rule of Atatürk’s Republican People’s Party (CHP). Upon Atatürk’s death in 1938, his close ally İsmet İnönü became the second president of Türkiye. President İnönü continued secular reforms and a one-party system.

Following the Second World War with rising discontent among the Turkish population and increasing pressure from Western powers, President İnönü began a transition to a multi-party democracy. In 1946, new parties were allowed, most notably the Democrat Party (DP) led by Adnan Menderes. The first multi-party elections also took place in 1946. However, these were flawed, with many claiming the vote was rigged. More elections took place in 1950, this time the DP won a landslide victory. President İnönü peacefully handed over power to the DP, marking the end of an era and the beginning of democracy in Türkiye.

Political violence, economic crisis, and ideological clashes between secularists, Islamists, and leftists have made the path to democracy a difficult one

The new democracy experienced a turbulent journey. President Adnan Menderes initially expanded freedoms but became increasingly authoritarian, leading to a 1960 military coup and his execution. Türkiye later returned to civilian rule but endured more military pressure in 1971, 1980, and 1997. Political violence, economic crisis, and ideological clashes between secularists, Islamists, and leftists have made the path to democracy a difficult one. The country has been unstable in the period following the end of single-party rule. Throughout this instability, the military has acted as the guardian of Atatürk’s secular legacy, often at the detriment of democratic principles. Whenever religious movements began to gain traction, the military acted to stop them.

This pattern of religious movements being stopped by the military has continued, until 2002, when the Justice and Development Party (AKP), led by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, won a decisive election. The 2002 election marked a new era for Turkish politics, one of reversion to religious policy and authoritarianism.

Erdoğan’s AKP came to power in 2002, initially promoting democratisation, economic growth, and integration with Europe. Erdoğan, to many, represented a fresh start in a nation that had been grappling with economic and political instability. His first reforms included reducing military influence and improving the rights of minority groups such as the Kurdish. However, President Erdoğan has grown increasingly authoritarian since 2010. Several key events signify a shift in the political landscape.

The 2013 Gezi Park protest quickly escalated into nationwide demonstrations. The movement was dealt with by the AFP heavy-handedly, using police to suppress dissent. The event demonstrated Erdoğan’s increasing intolerance for opposition and authoritarian tendencies. Following the protests, he cracked down on civil liberties such as freedom of assembly and press.

In 2016, following a failed coup attempt, President Erdoğan initiated a purge of the judiciary, military and civil service. The removal of government employees went far beyond the coup plotters, leaving mostly loyal Erdoğan supporters in key positions

Furthermore, in 2016, following a failed coup attempt, President Erdoğan initiated a purge of the judiciary, military, and civil service. The removal of government employees went far beyond the coup plotters, leaving mostly loyal Erdoğan supporters in key positions. Since 2016, 4,000 judges have been removed. Erdoğan accused the religious Gülen movement of orchestrating the coup, and declared a state of emergency, allowing detention without trial, press suppression, and restricted freedoms. Again, the event demonstrated a shift to a more authoritarian government and a weakening of democratic institutions.

In 2017, a referendum was held to change the Republic’s constitution. The vote resulted in narrow approval for a transition from a parliamentary system to a presidential system, which granted Erdoğan extensive executive powers. Under the new legislation, Erdoğan became a dominant political figure, with vast authority over all branches of government. In essence, all political power was centralised in the office of the President. The democratic principle of ‘checks and balances’ had been actively eroded.

Despite occasional difficulty, the period between the 1950s to 2002 saw regular multi-party elections. The process was competitive, with high voter turnout and peaceful transfers of power. In contact, Erdoğan’s AKP has brought about a titled election process. One in which the state funds AKP campaigns, opposition media access is restricted, and state lines are gerrymanders to favour the AKP. Furthermore, the 2017 referendum has weakened the process of government by reducing parliamentary checks.

Türkiye has never resembled an autocracy as much as it does today, save for the early republican period

– Burcu Cevik-Compiegne

In a major, more blatant effort to undermine democracy, in March 2025, the leading opposition figure, Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was arrested. The move by the President comes just days before the Mayor’s CHP presidential primary victory. It demonstrates a major shift to more blatant suppression of opposition and exemplifies how it has become a crime to be a political rival. Following the arrest, there have been nationwide protests met with police violence and mass arrests, again reflecting authoritarian governance. Türkiye “has never resembled an autocracy as much as it does today, save for the early republican period” Burcu Cevik-Compiegne notes in The Conversation.

Erdoğan has also made worrying advances on citizen rights. Atatürk’s secular reforms granted women voting rights and abolished religious courts. Under Erdoğan: LGBTQIA+ gatherings are banned, and critics face prosecution under vague “anti-terror” laws. In 2023, Türkiye also withdrew from the Istanbul Convention; a treaty combating violence against women, reflecting a wider regression on gender rights.

Türkiye has a rich political history, often grappling with its best direction. The nation has transitioned from an empire to a one-party state, then to a multi-party democracy, and now to an increasingly autocratic system. Since 2002, President Erdoğan has taken action and created legislation which raises concerns about the future of democracy in Türkiye. With some claiming “elections no longer matter”, we must question whether it will fully devolve into autocracy or if there still hope for democratisation movements.