Why Erdoğan Shouldn’t Double Down on Dictatorship After Coup Attempt

Turkey is strategically essential for Europe, the United States and NATO, but doubts have emerged about the nation’s policies during the past year with repression of opposition groups. The organizers of the failed coup may have miscalculated on how much support they might receive from marginalized groups in a divided Turkey. “Politicians of all hues, including the secularists, the ultranationalists and even those fighting for Kurdish autonomy, joined in condemning the coup attempt and asking their followers to resist it,” writes Mohammed Ayoob for the National Interest. “This demonstrated that Turkey’s political culture has changed tremendously during the past twenty years, and that Erdoğan’s most strident critics consider him a lesser evil when compared to rule by a military junta.” Citizens, including opponents of the current government, joined in blocking and criticizing the coup. Such support may not emerge again if the government rejects needed reforms. And likewise, authoritarian ways are incompatible with NATO membership. – YaleGlobal

Why Erdoğan Shouldn't Double Down on Dictatorship After Coup Attempt

Erdoğan should resist authoritarian ways after the attempted military coup in Turkey fell flat, blocked by citizens and criticized even by opposition groups
Mohammed Ayoob
Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Mohammed Ayoob is Senior Fellow, Center for Global Policy, and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of International Relations, Michigan State University.

Copyright held by the National Interest.