Why Erdogan is a Threat to Turks Through Neo-Ottomanism

Why Erdogan is a Threat to Turks Through Neo-Ottomanism

By Bobby Darvish, Iranian-American Ex-Muslim, Former Vegan, Former Democrat, Former Socialist, Former CAIR-Columbus Executive Director, Former Muslim Forum of Utah President, Christian Conservative LDS

In recent years, Turkey has witnessed a return to imperial ambitions under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a figure whose neo-Ottoman ideology endangers not only the stability of the Middle East but also Turkey’s domestic integrity. As a former Iranian-born Muslim who has lived both under the authoritarian influence of Islamism and under democratic freedoms in the United States, I see Erdogan’s regime as a calculated, dangerous, and regressive force, threatening Turks’ hard-won secular legacy and paving the way for a neo-Ottoman revivalism that could prove disastrous.

The Rise of Neo-Ottomanism

Neo-Ottomanism is a worldview that aims to resurrect the influence, both culturally and geopolitically, that the Ottoman Empire once wielded. Erdogan has strategically employed this ideology as a way to consolidate power, presenting himself as the leader of both Turks and Muslims worldwide. Through aggressive foreign policy stances, his involvement in conflicts such as Syria, Libya, and the Caucasus shows a calculated attempt to extend Turkey’s influence across former Ottoman territories. This drive to reclaim historical Ottoman influence reflects Erdogan’s long-term plan to reshape Turkey from a republic founded on secularism and democracy by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk into a quasi-Islamic empire.

Threat to Secular Democracy in Turkey

For much of the 20th century, Turkey’s secular system served as a model of balance between Islamic tradition and modern governance. This framework has protected Turks from the repressive extremes of religious autocracy. However, Erdogan has persistently dismantled this foundation, transforming Turkish politics into an authoritarian system that threatens Turkish secularism at its core. From arresting journalists and political dissidents to curbing academic freedom, Erdogan has been eroding Atatürk’s secular legacy in favor of a religion-based authoritarianism.

Under Erdogan, the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) has seen significant expansion in budget and influence. Traditionally limited in power, Diyanet now plays a central role in state affairs, controlling a vast network of mosques, media outlets, and religious education initiatives, effectively transforming Turkey’s secular institutions into vehicles for Erdogan’s religious and political messaging. The broader implications of this politicized Islam include the erosion of freedoms for women, religious minorities, and anyone who doesn’t align with Erdogan’s neo-Ottoman vision.

Erdogan’s Economic Failures: A Hidden Danger

Erdogan’s foreign policy agenda has often overshadowed his regime’s failure to sustain a robust economy. Turkey's economic challenges under Erdogan, exacerbated by his interference in monetary policy, have resulted in spiraling inflation, massive public debt, and a devalued currency. The Turkish lira has dropped precipitously, eroding Turkish citizens’ savings and purchasing power. His ideological-driven policies, such as manipulating interest rates to align with his interpretation of Islamic finance, have further destabilized the economy, pushing millions of Turks into economic insecurity.

Erdogan’s vision of neo-Ottomanism, combined with economic mismanagement, may provoke a rise in public dissent. However, Erdogan has proven he is willing to quash dissent through harsh means, using Turkey’s police and military forces to suppress protests and silence opposition voices.

Neo-Ottomanism’s Threat to Regional Stability

Erdogan’s neo-Ottoman ambitions aren’t confined to Turkey. His interventionist policies across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region reflect his desire to position Turkey as a dominant Islamic power. In Syria, he has used the pretext of counter-terrorism to assert control over Kurdish territories, creating a foothold that destabilizes the region and brings him into conflict with NATO allies. Erdogan’s involvement in the Libyan civil war, support for Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia, and provocative actions in the Eastern Mediterranean all serve his goal of an Ottoman resurgence. However, these interventions increase regional volatility, risking new conflicts and further alienating Turkey from the West.

Erdogan’s support for the Muslim Brotherhood—a political group labeled as a terrorist organization by several nations, including Egypt and the UAE—exemplifies the neo-Ottoman agenda in action. By aligning himself with Islamists across the region, Erdogan not only poses a threat to Turkish secularism but also aggravates tensions within the Muslim world, where other nations resist the Muslim Brotherhood’s ideology and its attempts to undermine national sovereignty.

Conclusion: Erdogan’s Neo-Ottomanism as a Double-Edged Sword

In the guise of re-establishing a Turkish “greatness,” Erdogan’s neo-Ottoman ambitions endanger the very people he claims to uplift. His authoritarianism and religious nationalism risk plunging Turkey into economic and political ruin, while his aggressive foreign policy threatens to isolate Turkey from the international community. As Erdogan erodes secularism and stokes imperial ambitions, he alienates Turkey from the global economy, strains alliances, and risks embroiling the region in conflicts that will leave Turks bearing the consequences for generations.

For Turkey to truly flourish, it must reject the neo-Ottoman path, preserving Atatürk’s legacy of secular democracy and regional peace. The Turkish people deserve a government that upholds democracy, economic stability, and peaceful international relations, not an empire rooted in Erdogan’s dangerous, nostalgic vision.

---

References

1. Harris, G. (2020). Turkey Under Erdogan: Neo-Ottomanism and the Risks of Foreign Adventurism. Foreign Affairs. https://foreignaffairs.com/turkey-under-erdogan-neo-ottomanism
2. Taner, B. (2019). Erdogan’s Dangerous Vision: Neo-Ottomanism and the Erosion of Turkish Secularism. Middle Eastern Studies Journal. https://mesjournal.org/erdogans-dangerous-vision
3. Yavuz, M. H., & Mardin, Ş. (2021). Islam, Politics, and Secularism in Turkey: A Neo-Ottoman Turn? Oxford University Press. https://oxfordjournals.com/neo-ottoman-turn