Erdoğan

Examines ‘New Turkey’ through the life of its domineering leader

• Documents the formation and development of Erdoğan’s political life and character
• Closely examines Turkey’s authoritarian turn and Islamisation of the state by focusing on the role of Erdoğan, his ideology and the clash with the Gülen movement
• Analyses Erdoğan’s evolving personality and positions over time, from his depictions as a manipulative political strategist through to his representation as Köroğlu (Turkish Robin Hood)
• Looks ahead to what Erdoğan’s legacy will be and what the future holds for Turkey

President Erdoğan’s resilience as Turkey’s leader makes for an extraordinary political study of longevity, charisma and strategic decision-making. Uncovering the person behind the persona, M. Hakan Yavuz draws on 250 first-hand interviews to untangle the web of literary, religious and biographical influences that shaped Erdogan’s personality, ideology and world view. In understanding the inner life, continuous self-reinvention and professional struggles of Erdoğan, Yavuz is able to provide an invaluable insight into the complex record of policies – in both domestic and international arenas – that have marked his governing tenure.

With chapters covering the Gezi park protests, the clash between the AKP and Gülen movement, the Kurdish question and the country’s projected image as a major international power, Yavuz explores how and why Erdoğan has reconstituted a ‘New Turkey’ – a hybrid political entity, neither East nor West, democratic nor dictatorial, Islamic nor secular.