Autokratisches Lernen – Parallelen des russischen und türkischen Neopopulismus
Autocratic Learning – Parallels between Russian and Turkish Neo-Populism

Summary/Abstract: This contribution explores parallels in the development of autocratic rule in Russia and Turkey. Given both regimes’ activities in the Western Balkans, some of the main challengesfor liberal democracy are demonstrated by pursuing three main theses: First, revisionist,neo-populist regimes are incompatible with the genuine interests of liberal democracy, posing a challenge to the demand for a value-oriented foreign policy, as advocated for instance by Germany. Second, there is a tipping point in the autocratic progress of populist regimes that can be missed – rendering functional partnerships between the two regimes impossible, and a return to the path of democracy unlikely. Third, the revisionist sense ofmission by neo-populist actors in both Russia and Turkey serve a rule-securing function,by manipulating public consent both at home and abroad. Finally, the paper concludeswith a plea to take revisionist neo-populism for serious, advocating for a strategic rethinkingof foreign policy towards neo-populist regimes.

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