The Next Balancing Act for President Erdogan

Source:Fair Obverver Date:14Jul2018

A good historical review of the Republican  tradition and Erdogan’s challenges:  Rebuilding  institutions and taming his nationalist ally MHP.

With few, if any, friends among Gulenists or secularists inside or outside Turkey, the president will use the next term to bolster not only foundations like TURGEV, but also the imam-hatip (religious school) system of educational establishments that will serve to produce a new generation loyal to his vision. He will also have to work to repair hollowed institutions of state that have seen some of the largest purges in modern history. The polarized and majoritarian nature of Turkish politics, and the vast numbers of disaffected, will make this task particularly difficult.