Rising from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire, modern Turkey was founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who was dedicated to creating a secular Muslim state with progressive reforms that transformed the nation into a beacon of modernization and democracy in the Muslim world. However, under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey has experienced a significant shift towards authoritarianism, with crackdowns on dissent, media suppression, and erosion of secular principles. Having visited Istanbul many times, I can attest to its vibrant culture, rich history, and remarkable beauty, making it one of my favorite cities in the entire world. Much like Russia, Turkey boasts a phenomenal history and culture, yet its present political climate under Erdoğan’s rule is increasingly seen as reprehensible, drawing concerns from international observers about the country’s direction and the future of its democratic institutions Follow Jim Luce on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X (Twitter). © 2024 The Stewardship Report on Connecting Goodness – Towards Global Citizenship is published by The James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation Supporting & Educating Young Global Leaders is affiliated with Orphans International Worldwide, Raising Global Citizens. If supporting youth is important to you, subscribe to J. Luce Foundation updates here. Discover more from The Stewardship Report Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe