Opposition-controlled local governments under an electoral authoritarian regime

In electoral authoritarian regimes, local governments offer an alternative platform for opposition parties to level the playing field and gain resources that are vital to compete against the ruling party. The opposition's performance in the 2019 local elections in Turkey offer an interesting case to observe this phenomenon. After the election, opposition mayors in several major metropolitan areas have gained enormous popularity due to their success in providing social assistance and public services. In response, the government has sought to curtail the power of elected mayors and cut their financial sources. This project will analyze the steps taken by the government to limit the performance of opposition-controlled municipalities under an electoral authoritarian regime. I am looking for students who are interested in comparative and/or Turkish politics/history.