The Turkish example: A dazzling success or a pitfall?
By Mariya Petkova September 19, 2011, 4:58 pm
Last week Recep Erdogan showed up at the right place at the right time, just as always in his political career. As the Israeli Embassy fiasco unrolled preceded and followed by threats from the government and ruling military council to suppress protests and the press, Egyptians hungered for the charisma of a popular freedom leader. Erdogan gave them the whole package: an ambitious man who defied the military, pulled his country out of economic stagnation, pushed for social reform, resisted the West, stood up to Israel and put his country back on the geopolitical map. Turkey is what everyone talks about these days. Turkey is prospering while neighboring Europe is sinking; Turkey is staying strong and united while the Middle East is breaking into war and civil unrest; Turkey is charging on the international scene while others are withdrawing humiliated. Last week the big crowd at the VIP entrance of Cairo Airport was awaiting the arrival of the blueprint that can make Egypt a similar success.
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