Surviving the Covid-19 Pandemic under Right-wing Populist Rule: Turkey in the First Phase

Abstract

Turkey survived the first phase of the Covid-19 pandemic relatively successfully. Compared to some other populist governments, the AKP did not deny the seriousness of the crisis or the importance of medical expertise. The demographics of the population helped, but precautionary measures and the healthcare reform implemented earlier also contributed to this relative success. As a right-wing populist party, the AKP implemented healthcare and economic policies that appealed simultaneously to business and low-income groups. Populist rhetoric blaming the opposition and exclusion from policymaking of unfavourable sectors including opposition-run municipalities deepened the existing polarisation. The crisis response also revealed how the personalised and centralised nature of the executive in the new presidential system can lead to inconsistencies and arbitrariness.