AKP’s electoral success: Populist communication and conservative welfare regime in Turkey

Hüseyin Kalaycı

doi:10.24294/jipd.v8i9.6941

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AKP’s electoral success: Populist communication and conservative welfare regime in Turkey

Hüseyin Kalaycı

Journal of Infrastructure Policy and Development 2024, 8(9), 6941; https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd.v8i9.6941

Submitted：06 Jun 2024

Accepted：18 Oct 2024

Published：11 Sept 2024

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Abstract

During his 22-year rule, Turkey’s populist leader Erdoğan not only ensured his control of mainstream media ownership, but he also aligned the language and style of these media with his own populist politics. This investigation presents a unique perspective by highlighting the AKP’s establishment of a network of loyal media outlets and business individuals through crony capitalism while also demonstrating that the party garnered loyalty from religious foundations, and the urban poor due to the aid and financial support provided by AKP municipalities. The primary objective of this research is to offer a distinct scholarly contribution by analyzing the influence of crony capitalism and welfare policies within the context of populist politics. This study employed a methodology centered around network graphs designed to reveal connections between the AKP, various media outlets, and associations and foundations, thereby highlighting the AKP’s association with key actors involved in the establishment of a neoliberal-conservative hegemony.

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References

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