Civil Society and Autocratisation: Cooptation, Repression and Contestation in Turkey

This book fills a significant gap in the extensive literature on autocratisation by offering theorisation of authoritarian institutional landscapes beyond partisan and formal institutions in light of novel empirical evidence. Focusing on Turkey, one of the most cited contemporary cases of autocratisation, this book documents the multifaceted transformation of civil society through the parallel mechanisms of cooptation, repression and contestation. Despite incessant attempts at taming through repression and controlling through cooptation, ’tactful contention’--a blend of vigorous advocacy, non-violent protests, occupations, campaigns, digital activism, and democratic innovations-- is non-negligible within civil society. This book offers a profound understanding of civil society’s role as both a target and catalyst in autocratisation, essential for anyone interested in contemporary authoritarian trends and democratic resilience.