Decline of Democracy in Turkey and Russia

Research Paper Proposal

1) Decline of Democracy in Turkey and Russia

2) In the 21st century, it is evident that democracy is continuing to decline in Russia and Turkey. The main reason for the decline in democracy for both governments are correlated with the leaders of this two countries. Over the years, both Turkish and Russian governments have adopted a populist style of government due to the longtime rule of Vladimir Putin in Russia, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey. During the presidency of these two leaders, the two governments have moved towards authoritarianism. Russia has already stirred away from democracy under Putin when he transformed an electoral democracy into an electoral authoritarian regime. He manipulated the formal rules of a weakly institutionalized semipresidential system to strengthen his power. Erdogan in Turkey also preserved power by successfully reshaping Turkey’s political and social institutions. After cracking down on press freedom, moving towards Islamism, and deteriorating relationship with the U.S. and the EU have moved Turkey increasingly towards authoritarianism. Similar trends that has resulted these countries to adopt an authoritarian style of government are weak institutions, electoral authoritarian regime, decline in press freedom, and economy.

3) The goal of this study is to understand what factors enabled Putin/Erdogan to undermine democracy.

4) Why has democracy declined in Russia and Turkey?

Dependent Variable: Transition to electoral authoritarianism

Independent Variables: weak institutions, decline in press freedom, decline in economy, leaders preserving power by reshaping political and social institutions, one-party regime

5) Weak institutions and decline in press freedom has opened the way as well as made it easier for both governments to transition into electoral authoritarianism. One-party regime and preserved power by political and social institutions are characteristics of an electoral authoritarian regime style

6) Identify research questions and answer the questions throughout the paper by providing evidences, examples, and pinpointing electoral authoritarian regime trends. Make connections between the two governments (Russia and Turkey) and authoritarian regime trends by analyzing the decisions that the leaders have made and the events that happened throughout their leadership. At last, compare and contrast the two governments and find similarities and differences.