Many democrats have feared the rise of Islamacist political parties. When Recip Erdogan was elected President of Turkey, he offered us a different vision: in this country, it was the military that had opposed democracy, and Erodogan, a moderate Islamcist, who was the popular alternative. Sadly, after 20 years in power, Erdogan has transformed into a fairly typical (thought not particularly religious) petty tyrant. This two-part series charts his story. It's not bad, but unlike some BBC documentaries, has only limited interviews with the major players (and none with Erdogan himself), and some irritating journalists whose commentary is essentially just opinion. It's important viewing for those who know too little about the country, a key bridge between east and west; but it doesn't provide much in the way of cultural (as opposed to political) background.
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