This study presents a new theoretical framework for understanding one of the ways in which populists generate support in elections. It argues that populist movements securitize elections by triggering perceptions of ontological insecurity among voters. Through this strategy, populist movements amplify voters’ negative image of the country they live in and the challenges they face, which contributes to populist movements’ electoral success. Building upon this theoretical framework, this study offers an explanation for the 2015 double general elections in Turkey. The Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, AKP) experienced disappointment after losing its parliamentary majority in the June 2015 elections. However, the AKP increased its votes by 8.6 percent in the November 2015 elections. Between these two elections, the AKP had used the Kurdish question to trigger perceptions of ontological insecurity, which enabled it to securitize the elections in November. This strategy helped the AKP win the November elections.

中文翻译：

---

民粹主义者如何证据选举赢得他们：2015年土耳其的两次选举

本研究提出了一个新的理论框架，用于理解民粹主义者在选举中获得支持的方式之一。它认为，民粹主义运动通过引发选民对本体论不安全感的看法来使选举安全化。通过这一策略，民粹主义运动放大了选民对其所居住国家的负面形象以及他们所面临的挑战，这有助于民粹主义运动在选举中取得成功。基于这一理论框架，本研究为土耳其 2015 年的双重大选提供了解释。正义与发展党 (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, AKP) 在 2015 年 6 月的选举中失去议会多数席位后感到失望。然而，正义与发展党在 2015 年 11 月的选举中增加了 8.6% 的选票。在这两次选举之间，正义与发展党利用库尔德问题引发了对本体论不安全感的看法，这使其能够将 11 月的选举安全化。这一战略帮助正义与发展党赢得了 11 月的选举。