This chapter focuses on the differences between the JDP and its right-wing predecessors, such as the Islamist Welfare Party and the centre-right Motherland Party, in order to demonstrate what has made the JDP a novel force in Turkish politics and paved the way for a competitive authoritarian regime in Turkey. The chapter argues that the JDP was very successful at striking a balance between the short-term requirements of elections (responsiveness) and the long-term requirements of governmental processes (responsibility). Similar to its Islamist predecessor, the JDP relied on a massive, tightly controlled mass membership organization that was active year-round. But it also constructed a pro-JDP media and toned down its Islamist appeal in order to cope with the interventions of the secularist elite. On the other hand, in contrast to the Motherland Party, the JDP avoided relying extensively on patronage networks, intra-party clientelism and capital-intensive campaign techniques. Faced with diminishing patronage resources, the JDP elite preferred to rely on a massive organization and a tension-increasing discourse, called 'controlled tension' in this chapter.