Conservatism in Turkey (Turkish: Muhafazakârlık) is a national variant of conservatism throughout Turkey reflected in the agendas of many of the country's political parties, most notably the governing Justice and Development Party (AK Party), which describes its prevailing ideology as conservative democracy. Elements of Turkish conservatism are also reflected in most parties situated on the political right, including the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). In Turkey, it is often referred to as Türk tipi muhafazakârlık (Turkish-style conservatism).
Ideals predominantly at odds with conservatives, such as secularism, statism, populism, and the existence of a social state are enshrined within the Constitution of Turkey. Turkish conservatism is rivalled mainly by Kemalism, based on the ideology of Turkey's founding president Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who brought about several social reforms influenced by a progressive pro-western agenda following the collapse of the conservative Ottoman Empire. However, Kemalism has also been described by some as a form of conservative nationalism as it endorses and safeguards the established traditions of the Turkish state, which also includes Islam as part of the state identity.
