Early Life and Education
Recep Tayyip Erdogan was born in the Kasimpasa neighbourhood of Istanbul, where he spent part of his childhood in the Rize region, which lies nearby on Turkey's northeastern coast. He returned to Istanbul at a young age and got enrolled at an Muslim vocational school, known as Imam Hatip school. While touching on Erdogan's educational background causes a stir, he later studied business at Marmara University.Early Political Career
Erdogan was involved in the Islamist political movement even in his political career. He eventually became involved with the National Salvation Party (MSP) youth wing, the National Salvation Party developed by Necmettin Erbakan, a renowned Islamist politician. A temporary dissolution of all political parties took place after the 1980 military coup; however, Erdogan went on to pursue his political activities and was later elected mayor of Istanbul in 1994 while running under the Welfare Party (Refah Partisi). His time as the mayor is widely appreciated for improving infrastructure, transportation, and the city's water supply.
In 1998, Erdogan was sentenced to prison after he recited a poem with national and religious overtones that was a basis of incitement for violence. He spent only four months in jail, emerging as a mere popular leader.
Founding of the AKP and Rise to Power
After the dissolution of the Welfare Party, Erdogan and other reformists founded the Justice and Development Party (AKP, Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi) in 2000, positioning the AKP as a center-right party that included elements of conservatism, democracy, and Islamism. The AKP won a landslide victory in the 2002 general elections, allowing Erdogan to ascend to the position of power. Yet, he was barred at first from serving as Prime Minister because of a criminal conviction; that ban was lifted, and he assumed the office of Prime Minister in March 2003.
Prime Ministership (2003-2014)
As Prime Minister, Erdogan undertook considerable political and economic reforms. The strong thrust of government consisted in strengthening Turkey's economy, and significant economic growth ensued during his reign. Turkey's aspirations towards a European Union membership are slowed somewhat because of the instability of reform initiatives aimed at aligning Turkey with EU standards.
Erdogan's government sought to ensure total control of internal and external power in Turkish politics, particularly in the military arena, which had always played a very strong role within Turkish politics. Thus far, Erdogan acted through constitutional reforms and legal methods of bringing about changes to reduce military power in Turkish politics, usually with very high media coverage. In fact, recent trials have raised serious doubts in the minds of many onlookers regarding the legitimacy of such trials (the Ergenekon and Sledgehammer trials), which have already lost almost all credibility.
On the front of the foreign policy, Erdogan advocated a more active and uncompromising role for Turkey in regional affairs, especially within the Middle East. His government should vanquish its effort to promote stronger relations with the neighbouring countries under the aim of a "zero problem" policy; the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011 has generally ground this particular method to a standstill.
Presidency (2014-present)
In 2014 Erdogan was elected the first directly elected President of Turkey after a constitutional amendment. His presidency made a major shift toward an executive system of governance, especially after the 2017 constitutional referendum that turned Turkey from a parliamentary into a presidential system. This transformation greatly empowered the presidency with significant powers to issue decrees, appoint high-level officials, and dissolve Parliament.
In his term, increased polarization and curtailment of media freedom characterize a rising trend toward authoritarianism. After the botched coup attempt by a faction of the military against Erdogan's government in July 2016, the Turkish Parliament declared a state of emergency that lasted for two years. During this period, thousands of military personnel, civil servants, journalists, and academics were purged or arrested under suspicions of affiliations to the coup plotters or to the Gulen movement, which Erdogan accused of carrying out the coup.
Domestic and foreign Policy
Under Erdogan, Turkey pursued an assertive foreign policy, regarding especially the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean. His administration was involved in the Syrian civil war, backed the government of Fayez al-Sarraj in Libya, and engaged in disputes with Greece and Cyprus over territorial waters. Turkey has gotten closer to Russia, yet continues to have an intricate relationship with the United States and NATO, especially regarding Turkey's acquisition of the S-400 missile system from Russia.
Internally, Erdogan boasts about the mega projects of airports, bridges, and the building of Canal Istanbul, an artificial, very controversial shipping canal. There have been mounting criticisms against the government for mismanaging the economy, particularly after a currency crisis in 2018 that left a trail of high inflation and unemployment.
Personal Life
Recep Tayyip Erdogan is married to Emine Erdogan, and the couple has four children. Erdogan is known for his strong Islamic beliefs, often referencing his faith in public speeches. His leadership style is often described as populist, with his supporters viewing him as a champion of Turkey's conservative and religious base, while his critics accuse him of undermining the country's secular and democratic traditions.
Legacy
Erdogan remains a dominant figure in Turkish politics, with his tenure reshaping the country's political landscape. His leadership has been polarizing, with admirers praising his role in modernizing Turkey and critics expressing concern over increasing authoritarianism. His influence on both domestic and international affairs is likely to have a lasting impact on Turkey for years to come.
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