Erdogan’s Political Journey: From Victimised Muslim Democrat to Authoritarian, Islamist Populist

With “the people” on his side, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has changed the very fabric of Turkish society. Turkey has been changing from an oppressive Kemalist state to an aggressive autocratic and vindictive Islamist state. All opposition is securitised and deemed “the enemy,” state institutions spread Erdoganism’s populist narratives, and democratic checks and balances have been successfully dismantled.