ERDOĞAN'S TURKEY: BETWEEN THE DREAM OF DEMOCRACY AND THE AUTHORITARIAN TEMPTATION

Abstract

Over the past two decades, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has profoundly reshaped Turkey’s political and social landscape, influencing the country more than any leader since Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern republic. Becoming prime minister in 2003 and president in 2014, Erdoğan was initially praised for his economic reforms and negotiations with the European Union, positioning Turkey as a model of democracy in the Islamic world. However, his path has been marked by an authoritarian drift, characterized by control over the press, undermining the independence of the judiciary, and suppressing the opposition. The 2016 coup attempt accelerated the consolidation of power, transforming the presidency into a dominant executive role. A recent example is the 2025 arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, on terrorism and corruption charges, which triggered massive protests and criticism from the European Union and Western allies. This paper analyzes how Turkey under Erdoğan evolved from a promising democracy to an authoritarian regime, examining the role of the instrumentalization of Islam and political repression. By exploring the historical context, the stages of the regime’s evolution, and the impact on democracy, the paper investigates the tension between the democratic aspirations of Turkish society and the authoritarian temptation that defines the country’s present.