MILITARISM: Technonationalism has strengthened Turkey's proactive foreign policy, promoted national pride and reinforced the image of a powerful state. The paradigm of "zero problems with the neighbours", which characterized Turkish foreign policy in the 2000s, has been abandoned in favor of a more interventionist approach under the doctrine of "security at any cost". In 2002, the total volume of defense industry projects was a modest $5,5 billion – By 2023, it rose to over $96 billion.
MEDIA: To uncover something about the independent media in Turkey, I visited P24, at the literature house for culture and political debate – in the heart of Istanbul.
TURKEY: Last autumn, MODERN TIMES met two intellectuals in Istanbul regarding today's Turkey – and attended a major conference there on political economy. We look here at the use of force, at freedom of expression, the media, militarization and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's political pragmatism.
TURKEY: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is perceived by many as an Ottoman sultan and behaves accordingly. He has become increasingly angry as the West has opposed him.
The Turkish president is tightening his grip on growing violence in Turkey – now the opposition fears he will speed up the upcoming election in 2019 to further consolidate power.
Erdogan is an authoritarian head of state trying to manipulate the system to his advantage – and support among the people seems to be declining. What is going on in Turkey?