Democracy and Civil Society in Turkey: Contesting Tutelage

Executive Summary

The 7 June 2015 general elections in Turkey marked a critical turning point by ending the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) single-party rule and introducing complex coalition possibilities. Although the AKP remained the largest party, it lost its parliamentary majority, while opposition parties collectively received around 60 percent of the vote. The elections reflected growing public resistance to perceived authoritarian tendencies and “civilian tutelage” under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, particularly in the context of his active involvement in the electoral campaign.

At the same time, civil society played a significant role in protecting electoral integrity through widespread citizen mobilization, election monitoring initiatives such as Oy ve Ötesi, and the effective use of social media. These developments were shaped by the legacy of earlier social movements, particularly the Gezi Park protests.

One of the most significant outcomes of the elections was the success of the People’s Democratic Party (HDP), which surpassed the 10 percent electoral threshold and entered parliament as a major political force. This achievement was based on a broad coalition of Kurdish voters, liberals, left-wing groups, and other social segments, supported by the inclusive leadership and discourse of Selahattin Demirtaş.

The study argues that the elections demonstrated the ability of Turkish civil society to create cross-cutting alliances and challenge dominant political structures. Overall, these developments represent both a challenge to authoritarian tendencies and a source of cautious optimism regarding the future of democracy in Turkey, emphasizing the growing influence of civil society and the continued impact of Europeanization and global dynamics on democratic practices.