Opening the box of parties and party systems under autocratization: evidence from Turkey

Date
2022-10-25
Advisor
Instructor
Source Title
Southeast European and Black Sea Studies
Print ISSN
Electronic ISSN
1743-9639
Publisher
Routledge
Volume
Issue
Pages
Language
English
Type
Article
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract

Party institutionalization (PI) and party system institutionalization (PSI) are critical for processes of democratization and democratic consolidation, yet their impact and relationship have not been explored under conditions of autocratization. How does autocratization relate to party and party system stability, and how does that link manifest itself? To answer those questions, we draw evidence from Turkey to demonstrate that when autocratization occurs, stabilization at the systemic level can go hand in hand with declining levels of PI. We also conceptualize the process of stabilization at the systemic level alongside unit-level de-institutionalization as a form of systemic ossification. Ossified party systems appear stable but are continuously subject to the possibility of de-stabilization, or even implosion, due to the under-institutionalization of incumbent parties. Driving factors of such (de)stabilization are: (1) the increasing unevenness of party competition and (2) increasing levels of societal and political polarization resulting from autocratization.

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Book Title
Keywords
Political parties, İnstitutionalization, Autocratization, Ossification, Turkey
Citation
Published Version (Please cite this version)