Turkey: A Cry For Help To The West

On Sunday, Turkey faces one of the most important decisions of Turkish political history. Turks will vote a new constitution that might end up sliding the country into a dictatorship. Now more than ever, the world should not give up on Turkey, the article argues.

When Erdogan came to power in 2003, he was praised by many in the West. His policies were seen as inclusive rather than invasive: he talked peace with the Kurds, he spoke up for working-class religious conservatives and ushered in economic growth.

Today Turkey shows a very different picture: a coup attempt last July, the Syrian civil war, terrorist attacks, and a slow economy diminished by a collapse in tourism made a case for a new constitution that will generate "political stability", Ankara argues.

"[Erdogan] says that only a strong president can galvanise the state and see off its enemies. Naturally, he is talking about himself."

In America, or the United Kindom, the president and the prime minister have to submit themselves to the constitution, the courts, and a free press. This won't happen in Turkey.

We are talking about a man who once said: "Democracy is like a train: you get off once you have reached your destination".

Since the coup attempt last July, under a state of emergency, Erdogan has demonstrated "how cruelly power can be abused". Anyone seen as a threat is vulnerable in Turkey: academics, journalists, politicians, social media users ... Whatever the result on Sunday, the abuse will continue.

Because of that, The Economist argues, the West should not give up on Turkey. Also on its self-interest. Turkey is a very important ally in the region, both for NATO and the EU: in any kind of peace in Syria and in controlling the flow of refugees.

"Hence the outside world should not give up on Turkey, but be patient."