akp

The AKP, or Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, is a Turkish political party founded in 2001 by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Abdullah Gül, and others. It is commonly described as a conservative-democratic party with a market-oriented, pragmatic approach. Officially it promotes democracy, the rule of law, and social welfare, while drawing significant support from socially conservative segments.

The party rose to power after the 2002 general elections and pursued reforms aimed at aligning Turkey with European Union accession criteria, presiding over rapid economic growth in the 2000s. It dominated Turkish politics for much of the 2000s and 2010s, with Erdoğan serving as prime minister until 2014 and then as president. In 2017 a constitutional referendum shifted Turkey from a parliamentary to an executive presidential system, concentrating power in the presidency. The AKP has formed strategic alliances, notably with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The 2016 coup attempt and subsequent crackdown affected domestic politics and civil society.

Critics say the AKP has weakened checks and balances and media independence, while supporters credit it with macroeconomic stabilization, infrastructure development, and social programs. Since the mid-2010s, Turkey has faced inflation and currency volatility, and its foreign policy has grown more assertive, with involvement in Syria and Libya and a controversial S-400 defense system purchase from Russia; relations with some Western partners have deteriorated at times. The party’s electoral base remains strongest in Anatolia and among conservative and rural voters, though it has faced losses in major urban areas.

Leadership and structure: The party was founded by Erdoğan and Gül and has remained the dominant force in Turkish politics, with a centralized leadership and party organization. It continues to pursue a blend of economic liberalization, social conservatism, and pragmatic foreign policy, adapting to changing regional and international conditions.