History of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a significant figure in Turkish politics, has played a transformative role in the country over the past few decades. His political journey, marked by religious conservatism and extensive structural reforms, has been both celebrated and criticized, reflecting a complex legacy.

Erdoğan was born on February 26, 1954, in the working-class district of Kasımpaşa in Istanbul. Growing up in a pious family, he attended a religious vocational school and later studied economics and business administration at Marmara University. His early involvement in politics was influenced by his religious background and the sociopolitical currents of the time.

Erdoğan's political career began in the late 1970s when he joined the National Salvation Party (NSP), led by Necmettin Erbakan, a prominent figure advocating for political Islam in Turkey. The NSP was dissolved after the 1980 military coup, but Erdoğan continued to work with Erbakan, joining the Welfare Party (RP) established in 1983.

By the early 1990s, Erdoğan's political career gained momentum when he was elected the Mayor of Istanbul in 1994 as a candidate from the Welfare Party. His tenure as mayor was noteworthy; he tackled substantial infrastructure challenges, improved the water supply, modernized garbage collection, and reduced air pollution. These achievements built his reputation as a capable and pragmatic leader, but his tenure was also marked by his polarizing rhetoric.

In 1998, Erdoğan's political trajectory faced a setback when he was sentenced to ten months in prison for reciting a poem at a rally that the state viewed as inciting religious intolerance. This conviction led to his removal from office and a temporary ban from political life. The poem incident further fueled his popularity, turning him into a martyr-like figure among his supporters.

The dissolution of the Welfare Party in 1998 led Erdoğan and other members to establish the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2001, positioning it as a moderate, conservative democratic party. Under Erdoğan's leadership, the party won a decisive victory in the 2002 general elections, securing nearly two-thirds of the parliamentary seats. However, Erdoğan could not immediately assume the role of Prime Minister due to his previous political ban. After a legislative amendment, he took office as Prime Minister in March 2003.

Erdoğan's tenure as Prime Minister was marked by economic reforms that stabilized Turkey's economy, fostering significant growth and attracting foreign investment. His government also engaged in numerous infrastructure projects, initiated healthcare reforms, and undertook efforts to improve Turkey’s educational system.

He pursued a foreign policy of "zero problems with neighbors," aiming to strengthen Turkey's relationships with surrounding countries, though this approach faced challenges in the ensuing years. Notably, Erdoğan initiated negotiations for Turkey's long-elusive accession to the European Union, although these efforts eventually stalled.

Domestically, while Erdoğan's government initially expanded freedoms and pursued democratic reforms, including reducing the military's influence in politics, later years saw increasing criticisms over authoritarian tendencies. Media freedoms started to be curtailed, and instances of imprisoning journalists and critics drew international condemnation.

Erdoğan's first major challenge as a leader came with the Gezi Park protests in 2013. Initially sparked by plans to turn a public park in Istanbul into a commercial space, the protests grew into larger demonstrations against Erdoğan's increasingly autocratic governance. The government's harsh response drew criticism and highlighted the growing polarization in Turkish society.

In 2014, Erdoğan made a significant shift by running for and winning the presidency, a role that had been largely ceremonial until then. With a vision of an empowered presidency, he successfully campaigned for a new constitution, which was narrowly approved in a 2017 referendum. The changes transitioned Turkey to an executive presidential system, consolidating significant powers in the presidency.

As President, Erdoğan continued to assert his influence over Turkish politics, ushering in a new era characterized by a strong central authority. His tenure saw a crackdown on dissent, especially following a failed coup attempt in July 2016, which Erdoğan blamed on the Gülen movement, led by the exiled cleric Fethullah Gülen. The aftermath saw widespread purges across government institutions, with thousands of arrests and dismissals.

In foreign policy, Erdoğan's Turkey has played an assertive role in regional conflicts, from Syria to Libya, often pushing back against western allies' agendas. Despite economic difficulties, including high inflation and a depreciating currency, Erdoğan has maintained his electoral base, drawing on a potent blend of nationalism, religious conservatism, and identity politics.

Erdoğan's reign has fundamentally reshaped Turkey's political landscape, achieving a dominant position unlike any since Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the republic's founder. While his legacy is contentious, his impact on Turkey's governance, its secular-religious divide, and its role on the global stage is undeniable.

Through perseverance and populist politics, Erdoğan, the leader of the AKP and a pivotal figure in Turkish history, continues to captivate the political sphere, leaving an indelible mark on a nation at the crossroads of tradition and modernity. His career encapsulates the paradoxes of power, populism, and the perennial tension between secularism and religious conservatism in Turkey.