An Islamically Toned Neoliberal Hegemony Project: The Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey

Abstract Antonio Gramsci’s concept of hegemony is a crucial tool for understanding how political and social power is sustained and how the consent of large segments of society is garnered. Gramsci used the concept of hegemony to denote the ideological and cultural superiority of one class over others. This concept concerns not only coercive power but also the production of consent and ideological control. According to Gramsci, hegemony involves the ideological and cultural leadership established by a class, particularly the ruling class, through gaining the consent of other classes. This is different from coercive power, as it is enacted through institutions of civil society. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) has been a significant political actor shaping the political and social dynamics in Turkey after 2000. Adopting a nationalist conservative and Islamist ideology, the AKP has managed to gain the consent of broad public sections. The party has attracted traditionally religious communities through its discourse on Islamic values. It has also drawn sectors supporting liberal economic policies through its emphasis on modernization. The AKP has reinforced its ideological hegemony, particularly through its use of the education, health, and social welfare systems. By establishing close relationships with civil society organizations and religious institutions that align with its ideological foundations, the AKP has secured social consent. Gramsci’s concept of hegemony provides a significant framework for understanding how the AKP maintains its political and social power in Turkey.