Repression and Moderation: How Turkey's Regime Dampens Anti-Government Protests
Mass protests are rare in Turkey, even though there are many complaints and a strong opposition. The researchers suggest that the government's ability to suppress protests and the opposition's focus on winning elections instead of protesting are key reasons for this. The opposition in Turkey tends to avoid mass protests and instead focuses on appealing to the average voter to increase their chances of winning elections. This strategy is reinforced by the belief that they can achieve success through the ballot box.