ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief cross-sectional analysis, exploring current levels and aspects of party cartelisation in Turkey. It seeks to determine whether and to what extent the contemporary Turkish party system has become cartelised. The chapter argues that cartel party theory can greatly aid understanding democratic setbacks in an illiberal democratic context like Turkey. It also argues that in the cases of the Republican People's Party and the Nationalist Action Party, the opposition parties have tacitly colluded with the dominant party in changing the rules of political competition. The chapter presents the conceptual framework and the indicators of party cartelisation based on the extant literature. Through the empirical applications of this theory in European democracies, it has become evident that party cartelisation varies in its features and degree. Regarding deepened party-state links, it is necessary to see whether the party in public office controls the party's internal decision-making processes.
