Erdogan's Challenge to Ataturk's Legacy: Turkey at 100

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey and leader of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) party, has not dismantled Kemal Ataturk's secular order as feared, but rather co-opted and redefined it. Under Erdogan's leadership, Islam has gained a larger presence in public life, with more religious teaching in schools and the empowerment of pious businesspeople. However, Erdogan's efforts have seen limited success, with an increase in non-believers, a decrease in women wearing headscarves, and steady alcohol consumption. Despite his past criticism of Ataturk, Erdogan now embraces him as a symbol of his own power, emphasizing Ataturk's role as a war hero and downplaying his image as a secular reformer. Erdogan's vision combines strategic autonomy from the West, economic expansion, and a whitewashed version of the Ottoman past, appealing to many outside his own party.