What do you think about Erdogan?

It is no secret the Erdogan is an ambitious man who aspires to become the leader of sunni muslim world and dreams of restoring the glory of the ottoman empire.

Does Erdoğan want the return of the exalted Ottoman state?

It suggests that Erdoğan seeks the return of that old empire, the rise of ‘The Exalted Ottoman State’. As mind-bogglingly resounding this notion is, it is also false.

How will the Ottoman Empire be remembered?

The ottoman empire will always be remembered by its infamous chapter-the genocide of the Armenian people. To expand his regional influence, Erdogan has followed the footprints of the ottoman empire by first taking extraordinary corecove measures to consolidate his absolute powers at home.

What is the ‘Ottoman rebirth’?

The ‘Ottoman rebirth’ desires not the literal resurrection of a dead empire, but the ascendance of Turkey to a position of a dominant and influential political entity amongst the former Ottoman dominions. It is not the Ottoman dominance that is sought, but Ottoman influence. Erdogan was rattled badly by the attempted coup against him.

Erdogan is the person who represents the Turks who bled for religion, and national freedom. He genuinely believes secular and democratic values are western plots to weaken Turkey. (He is not fully wrong on this.) Naturally, he dismantles democratic and secular institutions when he can.

How did Turkey become a secular country?

After World War I, under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the new republic defined itself as constitutionally secular, and pioneered “laiklik.” Under laiklik, the state both financed religion and controlled its influence in society using authoritarian means.

Why is Turkey not in the EU?

In 2007, France and Germany blocked all negotiation about Turkey’s EU membership after because the country refused to admit its role in the Armenian genocide. In 2016, after the failed military coup, Turkey’s human rights record worsened. In the last 15 years, Turkey has been chasing a new dream.

What is Turkey’s stance on religion and the state?

Turkey’s ” laïcité ” calls for the separation of religion and the state, but also describes the state’s stance as one of “active neutrality”. Turkey’s actions related with religion are carefully analyzed and evaluated through the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı or simply Diyanet).