ABSTRACT
Although Turkey made a transition to competitive politics during 1946–1950, its democracy has gone through periods of expansion and contraction. The pendular movements between more or less democracy have been a product of state-led modernisation creating a moderniser vs traditional political cleavage with the former prioritising modernisation over democratic expansion, while the latter prioritises the majority’s political supremacy. This has produced several pathologies that have undermined Turkey’s democratic development, particularly in the exercise of democratic liberties. Although recent economic and social developments have favoured more democratisation, the current government has opted for electoral authoritarianism with uncertain outcomes for liberal democracy.
