Just about everything that Erdogan stands for these days is, IMHO, both wrongheaded and likely to damage Turkey.
From undermining the secular state created by Ataturk, to his desire to restore Ottoman influence (his language and actions seem to indicate an expansionist desire, South & East in Syria and Iraq, and West into the Aegean), via attacks on media freedom, his alienation of minorities, and support for radical Islamist factions, Erdogan has been busy burning bridges over much of the last decade.
15 years ago Turkey, with its connections, both East and West, was a partner that others sought to court, because closer relations would be mutually beneficial , it is difficult to make them same case today.
Erdogan is rapidly moving into dangerous political space, fed, notwithstanding the "Gulenist" attempted coup, by what appears to be a growing paranoia, allied to a cynical, bombastic, nationalist and sectarian message. A century ago, Turkey was reshaped and redefined for the next 90 or so years by Kemal Ataturk; I doubt if many of us would want to see a repeat performance, under Erdogan, in reverse.
Turkey's incredibly rising debt along with dropping currency spells absolute doom for it's economy. Erdogan will of course blame "speculators" and "foreign agitators" and use the issue to become an even more hardcore dictator.
What are the chances that you can swap Turkey for the USA in a few years time?
We got a Turkish mayor in Enfield this year and now it’s being investigated as to how it happened and links to organized crime and a criminal family tie
We got a Turkish mayor in Enfield this year and now it’s being investigated as to how it happened and links to organized crime and a criminal family tie
Sorry to hear that you have a dodgy mayor, who happens to be Turkish. I take it you are not relating to this all Turkish people or potential Turkish mayors and is a stand alone comment unrelated to the main thread.
Just find the corruption in politics fascinating and the guardian reporting on our mayor this morning surprised me what with this a thread on Turkish politics I thought it’s apt
Turks give a wicked haircut and shave though plus great grub so I was quite looking forward to having a Turkish mayor
Dalaman. It's my 4th visit to Turkey I've been to Antalia and Olu Deniz twice I love the country. Only thing I am worried about is the heat.but with 2 young grandkids of school age August it had to be.
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Dude.... you are obsessed.... let it go
Interesting on impact of purges & how Erdogan’s economic approach & preference for big projects is undermining the economy.
There was a train crash linked to poor maintenance & upkeep of the railways. This was unreported in Turkey.
From undermining the secular state created by Ataturk, to his desire to restore Ottoman influence (his language and actions seem to indicate an expansionist desire, South & East in Syria and Iraq, and West into the Aegean), via attacks on media freedom, his alienation of minorities, and support for radical Islamist factions, Erdogan has been busy burning bridges over much of the last decade.
15 years ago Turkey, with its connections, both East and West, was a partner that others sought to court, because closer relations would be mutually beneficial , it is difficult to make them same case today.
Erdogan is rapidly moving into dangerous political space, fed, notwithstanding the "Gulenist" attempted coup, by what appears to be a growing paranoia, allied to a cynical, bombastic, nationalist and sectarian message. A century ago, Turkey was reshaped and redefined for the next 90 or so years by Kemal Ataturk; I doubt if many of us would want to see a repeat performance, under Erdogan, in reverse.
I'll sort him out if I come across him.
Turks give a wicked haircut and shave though plus great grub so I was quite looking forward to having a Turkish mayor
Used to be quite partial to one of those beauties. Tasty burps an hour later too.
Where you going?
It's my 4th visit to Turkey I've been to Antalia and Olu Deniz twice I love the country.
Only thing I am worried about is the heat.but with 2 young grandkids of school age August it had to be.