Modern Turkey

The Justice and Development Party's rise to power in Turkey was no ordinary event. Rather, it was a quiet earthquake, unfolding in stages, the repercussions of which continue to impact Ataturk's Republic and its geopolitical relations with neighboring and distant countries. Based on a long series of personal interviews with the "godfather" and first "Islamic" president of Turkey, Abdullah Gül, a member of this very party, as well as extensive research into the country's history, this book traces the rise and fall of Islamist movements in Türkiye.
As is his reputation in politics, Gül does not equivocate in his narrative, addressing events clearly and without ambiguity. He recalls the era when the second-largest NATO member was on the verge of joining the European Union, and discusses at length his country's relations, while in power, with major Arab states, particularly Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Iraq, as well as with major regional players in the Middle East, such as the United States, Iran, and Israel. Although Gül's relationship with current President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan remains based on old friendships, the book devotes ample space to shedding light on the differing, to the point of contradiction, visions between the Justice and Development Party's (AKP) generation on the one hand, and Erdoğan on the other. Disagreements begin with amending the Turkish constitution regarding the presidential issue, move on to the Gezi Park protests, and continue with the disagreement over understanding Turkey's role in the Syrian crisis.
Alongside Gul's rich testimony, the book focuses on his team, who are powerfully present as comrades in the political struggle, witnesses to a period of time, and analysts who share insightful views of the Middle East today. Thus, across 15 chapters, the book, foreworded by former Secretary-General of the Arab League Amr Moussa, explores a short history, yet one burdened with burdens heavier than its two decades of existence. It sheds light on the pallor of the present and attempts to answer difficult questions for the future.