logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2023
23m 50s

Turkey stuffed? A democracy’s last stand

The Economist
About this episode

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dismantled the country’s institutions. As an election looms we ask what democratic guardrails remain, and examine the wider risks if those go, too. “Non-compete” clauses designed to protect trade secrets when employees depart are being abused—and trustbusters are going after them. And Ryuichi Sakamoto, a famed Japanese composer, reckons with mortality in his latest release.


Music from “12” courtesy of Milan Records.


For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
Party likes it 1959: Cuba in crisis
<p>The country’s Communist Party leadership continues to cling to old ideals amid on-again, off-again diplomacy with America—and the people’s suffering <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2025/11/18/cuba-is-heading-for-disaster-unless-its-regime-changes-drastically?ut ... Show More
23m 15s
Yesterday
Wage against the machine: the distortions of minimum pay
<p>For decades governments have found minimum-wage rises a politically expedient means of redistribution. But the onward <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/11/20/why-governments-should-stop-raising-the-minimum-wage?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_so ... Show More
22m 16s
Nov 24
Emission creep: a contentious COP closes
<p>It is telling and troubling that the annual climate talking-shop’s <a href="https://www.economist.com/international/2025/11/22/cop30-ends-with-a-whimper?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownote ... Show More
25m 51s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2023
Turkey stuffed? A democracy’s last stand
<p>President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dismantled the country’s institutions. As an <a href="https://www.economist.com/special-report/2023/01/16/turkey-faces-a-crucial-election-this-summer?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discove ... Show More
23m 50s
May 2023
Poor more years! Erdogan triumphs in Turkey
<p>Recep Tayyip Erdogan has again <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2023/05/28/recep-tayyip-erdogan-is-re-elected-as-turkeys-president?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_artic ... Show More
21m 49s
Dec 2021
You bet your dollar-bottomed: Erdogan’s next gambit
<p>President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2021/12/21/turkeys-president-launches-a-plan-to-shore-up-his-plummeting-currency?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shown ... Show More
23m 20s
Mar 2021
Can’t take a hike: more economic turmoil in Turkey
<p>President Recep Tayyip Erdogan just does not like interest-rate rises. So he has again <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2021/03/22/turkey-faces-a-currency-crisis-after-erdogan-sacks-his-central-banker?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=third-p ... Show More
21m 37s
Apr 2022
General disarray: Russia’s military failures
Before the invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s armed forces were believed to be lean, modern and fighting fit. We ask why they have performed <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/04/30/how-rotten-is-russias-army?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theint ... Show More
22m 13s
Apr 2021
Is Turkey's authoritarian president losing his grip? Wishful thinking, says Ankara-based journalist Raziye Akkoc
<p>Raziye Akkoc, a British-Turkish journalist based in Ankara who reports for Agence France Presse and co-edits a highly regarded weekly newsletter Turkey Recap, speaks to Amberin Zaman about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's unchallenged grip on politics. For all his rece ... Show More
27m 27s
Apr 2024
What path lies ahead for Turkey after Erdogan's stunning local election defeat? Commentator Kadri Gursel explains
<p>Following The secular opposition's historic win in the March 31 elections, many say that Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu is now confirmed as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's chief rival in the next elections that are due to be held in four years. However, the reality is ... Show More
30m 17s
Apr 2023
Turkey’s voters lose faith in Erdogan
<p>Companies have committed more than $200bn to US manufacturing projects since Congress passed sweeping subsidies last year, one of Charles Schwab’s largest investors sold its entire $1.4bn stake in the brokerage giant during last month’s banking turmoil, Turkish voters head to ... Show More
8m 56s
May 2023
Turkey’s tight election
<p>Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and rival Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu are locked in a tight battle for the presidency as the election count suggested rising odds of an unprecedented second round, Argentina today will announce a new round of emergency government measures, Twitter's ... Show More
8m 16s
Apr 2022
EU prepares new sanctions after reports of Russian atrocities
<p>EU prepares more sanctions against Russia after apparent atrocities near Kyiv, French president Emmanuel Macron has warned his supporters not to assume that he will win a second term in this month’s election, and international auditors are resigning from China’s heavily indebt ... Show More
9m 36s