Turkey’s new dilemma
While explaining the fall of a tragic hero Aristotle holds Hamartia, or tragic flaw, in his character as the cause. In the case of Erdogan the tragic flaw is the strong urge to become a modern day Ottomon emperor.
In his early years as Prime Minister Erdogan, the Turkish economy soared and incomes rose sharply. In 2011 Turkey was the fastest growing G20 country. Turkey gained stability under AKP. An understanding with the Kurd nationalists brought internal peace. Turkey’s flourishing economy and its diplomatic outreach transformed it into one of the most important players in the region. While a popular Erdogan brought the army under control, he once held up Turkey as a model of Muslim democracy.
All this changed after 2013 with Erdogan meditating to become the president and transform Turkey’s parliamentary system of government into a presidential one. This was supposed to open the door to his seizing the title of president for life. In pursuit of the goal Erdogan damaged institutions critical for a functioning democracy like media and judiciary which have remained under constant attack since 2013.
As relations with Syria deteriorated in 2010, Erdogan started funding and arming extremist orgnisations in the neighbouring country. This amounted to playing with fire. Turkey now faces complex economic and social problems which have increased after the induction of 2.5 million Syrian refugees. As he decided to bomb IS under international pressure, and target Kurds who fought alongside the US in Syria, there were more terrorist attacks in Turkey. In November 2015 an arrogant Erdogan ordered the shooting down of a Russian warplane over Syrian border which led Russia break off diplomatic relations with Turkey and call off all trade agreements thus further bringing the Turkish economy under pressure.
Erdogan has ended up with people questioning his democratic credentials, the economy is in bad shape, internal security is under threat while the army has been weakened with arrests and purges. Erdogan rules like an autocrat over a country that has lost stability.