Is Turkey Communist? A Look at Turkey’s Political System

Turkey’s political system has undergone significant changes in recent years leading some to question whether the country is shifting towards communism. As a long-time member of NATO with historical ties to democracy Turkey seems an unlikely candidate for communism. However, recent developments under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have raised concerns. Let’s take a closer look at Turkey’s political trajectory and examine the evidence for and against Turkey becoming a communist state.

Background on Turkey’s Political System

Turkey has been a parliamentary republic since 1923 when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk founded the modern state out of the remnants of the Ottoman Empire Power was centered around Atatürk’s Republican People’s Party until 1945 when the country transitioned to a multi-party democracy Throughout the 20th century, Turkey flip-flopped between periods of democracy and military rule. The military intervened repeatedly to overthrow governments it viewed as threatening secularism and to restore order following economic crises.

Since 2002 the Justice and Development Party (AKP) led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dominated politics. The AKP espouses a moderate Islamist platform advocating for greater religious freedoms while supporting Turkey’s secular foundations and NATO membership. Under Erdogan, Turkey experienced an economic boom and initiated controversial reforms to consolidate power in the presidency.

Signs of Authoritarianism Under Erdogan

Erdogan served as Turkey’s prime minister from 2003-2014 before becoming the country’s first directly elected president in 2014. As president, Erdogan has taken several concerning steps towards authoritarianism:

• Consolidating executive power in the presidency
• Weakening checks and balances on his authority
• Intimidating and jailing journalists, academics, and political opponents
• Imposing restrictions on the media and internet
• Cracking down on protests and dissent

The 2016 failed military coup against Erdogan enabled him to institute a state of emergency, firing over 100,000 perceived dissidents from government jobs and arresting 40,000 accused of ties to the coup attempt. The dragnet expanded to target academics, journalists, and opposition politicians.

Communist Symbols and Rhetoric

Erdogan evokes populist rhetoric referring to political opponents as enemies of the state and frequently criticizing Western powers. He has also adopted some communist imagery and terminology:

• Quoting Marx and Engels
• Praising communist leaders like Lenin and Mao
• Using red star and hammer & sickle symbols at rallies

Furthermore, Erdogan expressed admiration for the structure of China’s Communist Party Congress and suggested implementing something similar in Turkey.

Links to Far-Left Groups

Several far-left radical groups operate in Turkey, some espousing Marxist-Leninist communist ideologies. The Grey Wolves, an ultra-nationalist youth organization, has carried out violent attacks and clashed with protesters at opposition rallies.

Some analysts contend the Grey Wolves operate as Erdogan’s “informal militia,” allowing the government to indirectly intimidate opponents. Other far-left parties like the Communist Movement of Turkey (TKH) criticize Erdogan but aligned with his opposition bloc ahead of the June 2023 elections.

Continued Ties to NATO and Capitalism

However, Turkey remains a capitalist economy and Erdogan has not moved to abolish private enterprise or collectivize industries under state control. Turkey is still a member of NATO, permitting the alliance to maintain bases in the country. And the government has harshly suppressed radical communist groups like the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party that reject participation in electoral politics.