Changes and continuities in the Turkish party system

Abstract

The article deals with the changes and continuities in the Turkish party system especially in the light of the 2002 parliamentary elections. It is argued that the victorious AKP (Justice and Development Party) is not a simple continuation of previous Islamist parties, but a new political force with a broad appeal to the former centre-right, centre, nationalist, as well as a portion of Islamist voters. The article also discusses the meanings of the terms left and right in Turkish politics