this post was submitted on 30 Jul 2024
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This seems a rather generous characterisation. He might have been more sensible in his economics earlier on, but he has always been a hardcore Islamist. Before he got into national politics was imprisoned during his term as Istanbul's Mayor for "inciting racial hatred", and his party deregistered for being too extreme in its opposition to secularism.
Yes but before Erdogan, the military was in charge of Turkey. So saying that the military favoured government didnt approve Erdogan was not proof that Erdogan was an actual radical, maybe it was just internal turkish politics. At least that's how it was perceived by the outsiders.
Turkey had nominally a democracy but if the military didnt approve the elected government, they would just coup it. But since being an actual democracy, with the government in charge of the military, is a requirement for joining the EU, Turkey was forced to become more democratic. Unfortunately the people of Turkey wanted a more islamic and less secular government, so thats what they elected.
Which in turn weakened the military's influence, increased Erdogan's power(since he was the elected leader) and led to the failed coup a decade later. The failed coup changed everything.