Book Review: Erdogan Rising: A Warning To Europe by Hannah Lucinda Smith

First published in 2019, Erdogan Rising is a significant contribution for readers who want to understand contemporary Turkey and is political dynamics. It addresses the question of how Recep Tayyip Erdogan rose to power, his policies and how he centralized power. Hannah spent time in Turkey and Syria to cover important events during very crucial times. She also joined the mass movement of migrants on their journey to Europe in 2015.  The author often refers to the history of the twentieth century and says that Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is seen as someone who saved the Turkish pride (p. 24).

The author also covers why Erdogan is in power in Turkey. Hannah writes about the early phase of Erdogan's life when he used to sell bread rings in the streets (p. 247). After coming to power Erdogan did a lot of large scale infrastructure development and also brought changes in the constitution. Erdogan made serious efforts to bring in Turks from all around the world (p. 318). Erdogan introduced special police forces, whose number increased drastically over the years. As a populist Erdogan knows very well how to create propaganda, use media, use religion, blame foreign powers, create support  among the lower segments of the population, accommodate migrants from Syria and manage elections. Once Erdogan wore the rank-and-file soldier uniform and met the Turkish troops in the battleground(p. 336) Erdogan also stresses on the need to unite the Turk nation. The author claims that the Central Asian genes makes up only 22 percent of the twenty first century Turkish DNA (p. 161).

Hannah also states how there is an opinion in Turkey which says that Erdogan's degree is fake (p. 338). The author covers how conspiracy theories circulate about the Gulenists. Erdogan puts a ban on YouTube for two and a half years because a few videos insult Ataturk (p. 30). 

I would not rate the book as a very fine biography. The informative and engaging style of the book coupled with the personal account of the author's experiences helps in gaining a deeper understanding of the Turkish society and politics.