Understanding Dominance of the Justice and Development Party in Turkey: the Ideological Dimension

The article examines the ideological dimension of dominance of the Justice and Development Party in the Turkish political process. Analysis of the party's doctrine and its leaders’ statements reveals the pivotal elements of the ideology that facilitated strengthening of the JDP's stance as a dominant party, i.e. liberal and democratic values, social conservatism, modernism, globalism and Neo-Ottomanism. These center-right orientations, being vague and eclectic, helped “democratic Islamists” to show both ideological rigidity and flexibility necessary to mobilize broad masses of Turkish voters and to keep long-term public support.