Identity Dynamics of the June and November 2015 Elections of Turkey: Kurds, Alevis and Conservative Nationalists

Abstract:
Identity politics was one of the major dynamics in shaping the results of both the June 7 and November 1, 2015 General Elections in Turkey. The parties that were affiliated with Kurdish and Turkish ethno-nationalism, the HDP and the MHP, increased their votes significantly in the June 7 elections. The AK Party was able to pull some of those votes back in November elections. The HDP tried to transform itself from being a regional or ethnic Kurdish party into a national party relevant to all of Turkey.

The PKK’s goal of becoming an influential regional actor in the Middle East hindered the HDP’s goal, thus leading to a decline of HDP votes in November elections. CHP remained as the favorite party of Alevi voters by a wide margin despite some challenge from HDP. The AK Party and the MHP competed over conservative right wing voters, while the AK Party and HDP struggled over conservative Kurdish voters. The AK Part was able to regain support of both Kurdish and Turkish conservatives in the November elections.