Erdogan's Empire: Turkey and the Politics of the Middle East

Since 2003, Turkey's autocratic leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been on a mission to elevate Turkey to the status of a great power, following in the footsteps of past Turkish leaders from the late Ottoman sultans to Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. In The New Sultan, renowned expert Soner Cagaptay provides an incisive overview of Erdogan's ambition to reshape Turkey's role in the Middle East and the broader world.

Erdogan has adopted an unconventional approach by seeking to position Turkey as an independent Middle Eastern power, diverging from its traditional alignment with Western allies like the United States. His imperial-style foreign policy aims to revive Turkey's Ottoman-era influence across the Arabian Middle East and the Balkans. However, this strategy has left Turkey increasingly isolated, with few allies in the region and growing threats from historical rivals like Russia and Iran.

At home, Erdogan's governance has led to a severe crackdown on dissent and press freedoms, creating further challenges for the country. As Turkey faces a hostile international environment and strained relations with its traditional Western partners, questions arise about Erdogan's ability to steer the country back to safety. Can Turkey achieve the greatness that Erdogan envisions, fulfilling a dream shared by many Turks, the sultans, Ataturk, and Erdogan himself? What risks lie ahead for both Erdogan and his nation?

The New Sultan offers a compelling exploration of these questions, providing critical insights into the complex power dynamics at play in the Middle East and Turkey's precarious position within it.

Paper Back

Author: Soner Çağaptay

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