No Crisis, No Change: The Third AKP Victory in the June 2011 Parliamentary Elections in Turkey

Abstract

Amidst debates over a new constitution and increasing tensions over the Kurdish issue, the June 2011 parliamentary elections were considered crucial for the fate of democratic consolidation in Turkey. The article first discusses the background of the general elections, providing an account of the main political developments since the July 2007 general elections. After a discussion of the election campaign, the results of the parliamentary elections are presented. The article concludes by discussing the implications of the election results for democratic consolidation in Turkey under the Justice and Development Party's (AKP's) third term of single-party rule.