Turkey Under Erdoan: How a Country Turned from Democracy and the West – Carnegie Europe

An incisive account of Erdoans Turkey showing how its troubling transformation may be short-lived

Since coming to power in 2002 Recep Tayyip Erdoan has overseen a radical transformation of Turkey. Once a pillar of the Western alliance, the country has embarked on a militaristic foreign policy, intervening in regional flashpoints from Nagorno-Karabakh to Libya. And its democracy, sustained by the aspiration to join the European Union, has given way to one-man rule.Dimitar Bechev traces the political trajectory of Erdoans populist regime, from the era of reform and prosperity in the 2000s to the effects of the war in neighboring Syria. In a tale of missed opportunities, Bechev explores how Turkey parted ways with the United States and Europe, embraced Putins Russia and other revisionist powers, and replaced a frail democratic regime with an authoritarian one. Despite this, he argues that Turkeys democratic instincts are resilient, its economic ties to Europe are as strong as ever, and Erdoan will fail to achieve a fully autocratic regime.

A sweeping attempt to capture the last 20 years of Turkey, Bechev skilfully traces the radical transformation of Turkeys domestic and foreign policies under Recep Tayyip Erdoan. An outstanding book from one of the best.Gnl Tol, Middle East Institute

A compelling narrative, rich in anecdotes, quotes, and carefully chosen empirical examples, enlivens an in-depth historical analysis of Turkeys evolution from the 1970s until today. Bechev charts Turkeys modernization, the rise of Islamist populism, its geopolitical shift from the periphery of the West to its bid for regional hegemony, as well as the weaknesses of the competitive authoritarian regime that its President Erdoan has crafted.Rosa Balfour, Director of Carnegie Europe

Bechev analyzes the two decades that witnessed the evolution of President Erdoan from a seemingly EU-friendly Muslim democrat to a strongman. He masterfully portrays how the shifts in AKPs foreign policy were intertwined with rising authoritarian practices in Turkey.Professor Aye Kadolu, Sabanci University

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Turkey Under Erdoan: How a Country Turned from Democracy and the West - Carnegie Europe