Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the New Republican People’s Party in Turkey

Description

This book discusses the life and professional struggle of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the transformation of the CHP under his leadership. It deals with the transformational periods and phases of the CHP, up to the period when Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu became prominent in the party. The CHP’s transformation and how it variously affected its popular standing in public opinion and revealed political liabilities and limitations cumulatively can indicate and explain to what extent political parties are likely to change as leadership changes and different regime governing approaches take hold. Furthermore, this book aims to answer the following questions: How and for what reasons did Kılıçdaroğlu decide to ally with the center-right wing in the CHP? What was the collective impact of the center-right wing in positive and negative terms regarding the CHP’s general identity, especially in historical context? After the 2015 elections, what constituted the shifts and revisions in Kılıçdaroğlu’s ideology and how did they alter the political power of the CHP as a major opposition party? What evidence exists to shed light on his capabilities for building coalitions as a viable option for the possibility of forming a national government in elections? Praise for Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the New Republican People’s Party in Turkey Contents 1 Introduction Introduction 2 The Ideology and History of CHP Paradox of the CHP: The Party of the State vs. Social Democrat Multiparty System (1946–1960) Bülent Ecevit (1972–1980) The Center–Periphery Thesis and the CHP Deniz Baykal Era (1995–2010) Conclusion 3 Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu: Life and Socialization Kılıçdaroğlu’s Moral Worldview Fathers and Sons: Erdoğan vs. Kılıçdaroğlu Alevi Identity and Kılıçdaroğlu Kızılbaş, Bektaşi, and Alevi Dersim/Tunceli Sociopolitical Context Memur Adam—Bureaucratic Personality The New CHP and Its Identity Conclusion 4 Kılıçdaroğlu’s Political Worldview Moral and Political Worldview State, Society, and Politics Justice and Democracy Secularism Nationalism: Civic Nation Moving to the Right or Reaching to the Conservative Population? Kılıçdaroğlu’s Discourse of Amending (Helalleşme) Kılıçdaroğlu’s Understanding of the Kurdish Issue The Chief of the Anatolian Orchestra: The Table of Six The Table of Governance and the Kitchen Table: A Collaborative Alliance The Post-2019 CHP of Kılıçdaroğlu Conclusion 5 Kılıçdaroğlu’s Foreign Policy The Tenants of Kılıçdaroğlu’s Foreign Policy Erdoğan vs. Kılıçdaroğlu’s Ideological Foreign Policy The Pro-Wester Foreign Policy The EU–Turkey Relations Turkey’s Ties with Russia and Ukraine Kılıçdaroğlu as a President: Challenges Conclusion 6 Conclusion: The Prospects and 2023 Elections The Building Blocks of Authoritarian Culture The 2023 Elections and Potential Consequences Bibliography Index