The AKP’s losses in key major cities in Turkey’s local elections provide opposition parties the opportunity to hold the ruling party accountable.

Religious authority is an increasingly influential but poorly understood source of power in governments throughout the Middle East. Who speaks for Islam in the region? How do Islamists and fundamentalists harness and exert religious authority, despite Islam’s largely decentralized power structure?

Erdogan has managed to gain appeal across the region by emphasizing his independent foreign policy and successful economic and religious stewardship while still maintaining an appearance of electoral democracy.

The continued poor performance of the Tunisian economy and the popular discontent might undermine grassroots trust in democracy across the region.

Turkey’s shift away from the West since the July 15 coup attempt is a deliberate tactic to strengthen the government’s domestic support base and pursue a more aggressive regional role.