Asan in the News

2015NOV06

[Arirang Radio] Turkey’s Ruling Party Swept to an Unexpected Victory

[Arirang Radio]  2015-11-06

Turkey’s Ruling Party Swept to an Unexpected Victory 

The ruling party in Turkey swept parliamentary snap elections and regained the single-party rule.

Turkey’s strongman president, Erdogan tightened his grip on power decisively.

But, this might sharpen deep social polarization in Turkey.

1. Tell us more about the background of “this surprising” victory of Turkey’s ruling party, Justice and Development Party or AKP.

2. Then, why is the election result so surprising? The party has been in power for 13 years and regained the majority again.

3. How is it that a man that who was, until recently, one of the world’s most popular leaders is now being portrayed as an authoritarian ruler?

4. What implications does the “regression to authoritarianism” in Turkey have for Korea?

*  Good Morning Seoul (Nov 6, 2015)

 

 

About Experts

Jang Ji-Hyang
Jang Ji-Hyang

Center for Regional Studies

Dr. JANG Ji-Hyang is a Principal Fellow and director of the Center for Regional Studies at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. Dr. Jang served as a policy advisor on Middle East issues to South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2012-2018). Previously, Dr. Jang taught comparative and Middle East politics at Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Ewha Woman’s University, and the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. Her research interests include political economy of the Middle East and North Africa, political Islam, comparative democratization, terrorism, and state-building. Dr. Jang is the author of numerous books and articles, including The Essential Guide to the Middle East (Sigongsa 2023 in Korean), The Arab Spring: Will It Lead to Democratic Transitions?(with Clement M. Henry (eds.), Palgrave Macmillan 2013), “Disaggregated ISIS and the New Normal of Terrorism” (Asan Issue Brief 2016), “Islamic Fundamentalism” (International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences 2008) and a Korean translation of Fawaz Gerges’ Journey of the Jihadist: Inside Muslim Militancy (Asan Institute 2011). Dr. Jang received a B.A. in Turkish studies and M.A. in political science from the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and her Ph.D. in political science from the University of Texas at Austin.