Leader Transcends Complex Politics of Turkey

[Gerald]

BURSA, Turkey — The cries tumbled from a balcony as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan swaggered down the campaign trail in this picturesque industrial city and former Ottoman capital. “Papa Tayyip!” went the refrain, drawing a wry smile from the man himself.

The words may have lacked the weight of “Father of the Turks,” the title given Mustafa Kemal Ataturk after he established modern Turkey in 1923. But it said much about Mr. Erdogan — arrogant and populist to detractors, charismatic and visionary to supporters — who will soon enter his second decade as leader of a country he has helped transform.

As Turkey heads to an election on June 12 — the size of Mr. Erdogan’s majority the only question — the country faces an Arab Spring, which took it by surprise; ambitions that stretch beyond its means; and growing fears that Mr. Erdogan’s eight years in office have decisively shifted power from the old secular elite and toward his party and the merchant class, migrants and downtrodden that it courts.

But even his critics acknowledge that this country of 79 million is a far different place from the one he inherited, emerging as a decisive power in a region long dominated by the United States.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/01/wo...html?ref=world


Note: Published: May 31, 2011

[Gerald]

[tater]

This whole "arab spring" nomenclature is getting old. It mostly happened in winter, for one, and it has yet to produce any "spring" I can discern.

I'll call it "spring" when I see glimmers secular democracy coming out of this, not before.

[joea]

Originally Posted by tater

This whole "arab spring" nomenclature is getting old. It mostly happened in winter, for one, and it has yet to produce any "spring" I can discern.

I'll call it "spring" when I see glimmers secular democracy coming out of this, not before.

This article is about Turkey, not the Arab Middle East. Turkey has been a democracy for awhile.

[Gerald]

"Democracy",with modification, the country has major problems in many places, but certainly it is not middle-east.

[tater]

Originally Posted by joea

This article is about Turkey, not the Arab Middle East. Turkey has been a democracy for awhile.

Did you read the OP?

As Turkey heads to an election on June 12 ---8212; the size of Mr. Erdogan---8217;s majority the only question ---8212; the country faces an Arab Spring, which took it by surprise; ambitions that stretch beyond its means; and growing fears that Mr. Erdogan---8217;s eight years in office have decisively shifted power from the old secular elite and toward his party and the merchant class, migrants and downtrodden that it courts.

The article mentions it, not me out of no where.

Turkey has not been a democracy very long. It only counts since the last time the military ever got involved (70s or 80s? can't recall), and IMHO, since at least one, ideally 2 peaceful transfers of power between parties. Ie: Mexico only became a democracy at the very least when the PRI lost its first election a few years ago, and it's only sure where it switches back and forth peacefully.

[Gerald]

Turkey,have to start cleaning up their country and protect more of Human Rights,

[joea]

Originally Posted by tater

Did you read the OP?



The article mentions it, not me out of no where.

Turkey has not been a democracy very long. It only counts since the last time the military ever got involved (70s or 80s? can't recall), and IMHO, since at least one, ideally 2 peaceful transfers of power between parties. Ie: Mexico only became a democracy at the very least when the PRI lost its first election a few years ago, and it's only sure where it switches back and forth peacefully.

Missed that-yes I see now. Good point.