AK Party marks 25 years: A story of political dominance and social transformation

The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) marks its 25th anniversary this week, a milestone achieved during a quarter-century of significant turbulence for Turkey and its surrounding region. Since its founding on August 14, 2001, the AK Party has not only remained a central force in the country's politics but has also overseen profound social transformations.

Just 15 months after its establishment, the AK Party secured a majority in the November 3, 2002 elections. It has since maintained its electoral success, finishing first in every subsequent general election. This sustained political presence has occurred amidst numerous challenges, including global economic crises, regional wars, a coup attempt, terrorist attacks, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the devastating February 6 earthquakes.

A key factor highlighted in the party's enduring success is the strong relationship of trust President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has cultivated with a broad segment of Turkish society. This connection appears to transcend the typical relationship between a political party and its electorate. Many citizens have reportedly distinguished between the party itself and Erdoğan, maintaining trust in the president even when offering criticism of the party. This has fostered a unique level of loyalty and connection, with many seeing Erdoğan's political journey as intertwined with their own life stories.

For years, large portions of the population felt disconnected from the state and the political establishment, facing barriers in areas like education, bureaucracy, the economy, and culture. The AK Party, and particularly Erdoğan, is credited with opening the political center to these previously marginalized groups. Initiatives such as lifting headscarf bans, abolishing the university entrance coefficient system, expanding education and healthcare services to remote areas, and implementing social policies have been perceived by ordinary citizens not just as policy changes, but as steps that strengthened their connection to the state and affirmed their place in society.