It has been postulated by Turkish analysts that the true reason why Europe, and by extension their media, does not like Erdogen, is primarily because he does not put the interests of Europe first, over Turkey's national interest. [19] James Jeffrey, a former US ambassador to Ankara, has openly discussed stated for instance that; "Erdoğan is not liked in Washington. He is not liked in Europe either...[t]he West dealt with more authoritarian leaders before Erdoğan, and it still does. But the difference is that the Saudis, the Egyptians - please excuse my language - wheedle us in all circumstances...[b]ut Erdoğan confronts us, flings our contradictions in our faces. He is not trying to become a pal, while leaders who are more authoritarian than him don't see a problem in posing as if they are good friends of ours...[b]eyond Erdoğan, there is an overall dislike of Turks in Washington. The Turkish military is so difficult, they do not just present arms and go to fight DAESH, they negotiate for months while the other countries send four...[t]hey in effect do nothing, but they still get positive points" . [19] Analysts have snapped back, retorting that the "Turkish people do not care if he does not make things easier for Western countries for the sake of their interests" . They add "[i]t is because Erdoğan's behavior against the West [we] do not feel obliged to make them satisfied, [and] not lick their boots" . [19] Erdogan has not been afraid to confront Europeans either, openly calling them "fascist" , adding that Turkey will not be threatened by the EU. [20]

The Turkish people are strong believers in democracy, visible by the extremely high turnout rates for their general elections. Voter turnout was 87.1% in 1999, in the 2002 general election, turnout was 79.1%, which rose to 84.2% in 2007, having stabilised in 2011 at 83.2%. [10] During this time, Erdogan was elected and served as Prime Minister of Turkey between 2003—2014, [11] before winning Turkey's first presidential election in 2014 with a 52% majority. [12] Voter turnout at this election was 73.8%. [13] Erdogan first began his political career, when he was elected Mayor of Istanbul in 1994, and served in office until 1998. He had won by a landslide, obtaining 25.2% of the vote. [14] Erdogan was arrested and jailed for practising his right to free speech in 1998 however, in writing a pro-Muslim poem, which was classified as "hate speech" (however, he was only quoting a famous Turkish nationalist, Ziya Gokalp, [15] who actually wrote the words). [16] He was taken to jail, but not before a 2,000 car envoy consisting of his most ardent supporters followed his escort to prison in solidarity. [16] The quote stated "[o]ur minarets are our bayonets, Our domes are our helmets, Our mosques are our barracks. We will put a final end to ethnic segregation. No one can ever intimidate us. If the skies and the ground were to open against us. If floods and volcanoes were to burst, We will not turn from our mission. My reference is Islam. If I am not able to speak of this, What is the use of living?" [16] He served four of a ten month sentence. [17]

Erdogan was born on February 26th, 1954, [1] and had extremely humble beginnings, coming from a family of five siblings who had moved to Istanbul sometime in 1967 for a better life. [2] [3] He was especially hard working in his younger years, even selling lemonade and sesame buns in his teenage years in his spare time for extra money. [3] European governments (who's own populations are extensively dissatisfied with their own governments [n. 1] ) despise him, as do anti-Muslim [n. 2] racists. [4] Erdogan's importance has been highlighted by the great track record he has imprinted upon Turkey. When he came to power in 2002, the economy was only worth about $231 billion dollars per year, but by 2014, it had more than tripled the GDP to $800 billion dollars in the space of about 12 years. [5] In addition, the country had had an inflation rate of 45%, but it was crushed down to 6.5% by 2011. [6] Furthermore, between 2002 and 2011, Erdogan had kept the economy growing at an extremely rapid pace, averaging an economic growth rate that hit 6.05% year on year, and, subtracting away the global recession of 2008, this average rises to 8.37%. [n. 3] Additionally, it's GDP growth rate was growing so fast that it was trailing just behind China and India. [7] Even during the Coup of 2016, Turkey was able to bounce back with a strong economic performance of 4%. [8] In the long term, Turkey's economy has significantly diversified in 20 years, with no reliance on any single market (the biggest is Germany at under 10%). [9]

The Turkish economy has made significant inroads ever since Erdogan came to power in 2002. Under his leadership the economy grew to a high of $823 billion dollars.

Erdogan was born on February 26th, 1954,[1] and had extremely humble beginnings, coming from a family of five siblings who had moved to Istanbul sometime in 1967 for a better life.[2][3] He was especially hard working in his younger years, even selling lemonade and sesame buns in his teenage years in his spare time for extra money.[3] European governments (who's own populations are extensively dissatisfied with their own governments[n. 5]) despise him, as do anti-Muslim[n. 6] racists.[4] Erdogan's importance has been highlighted by the great track record he has imprinted upon Turkey. When he came to power in 2002, the economy was only worth about $231 billion dollars per year, but by 2014, it had more than tripled the GDP to $800 billion dollars in the space of about 12 years.[5] In addition, the country had had an inflation rate of 45%, but it was crushed down to 6.5% by 2011.[6] Furthermore, between 2002 and 2011, Erdogan had kept the economy growing at an extremely rapid pace, averaging an economic growth rate that hit 6.05% year on year, and, subtracting away the global recession of 2008, this average rises to 8.37%.[n. 7] Additionally, it's GDP growth rate was growing so fast that it was trailing just behind China and India.[7] Even during the Coup of 2016, Turkey was able to bounce back with a strong economic performance of 4%.[8] In the long term, Turkey's economy has significantly diversified in 20 years, with no reliance on any single market (the biggest is Germany at under 10%).[9]

[18] A crowd of supporters. During the coup d'etat of 2016, where tens of thousands of his supporters defended him.

The Turkish people are strong believers in democracy, visible by the extremely high turnout rates for their general elections. Voter turnout was 87.1% in 1999, in the 2002 general election, turnout was 79.1%, which rose to 84.2% in 2007, having stabilised in 2011 at 83.2%.[10] During this time, Erdogan was elected and served as Prime Minister of Turkey between 2003—2014,[11] before winning Turkey's first presidential election in 2014 with a 52% majority.[12] Voter turnout at this election was 73.8%.[13] Erdogan first began his political career, when he was elected Mayor of Istanbul in 1994, and served in office until 1998. He had won by a landslide, obtaining 25.2% of the vote.[14] Erdogan was arrested and jailed for practising his right to free speech in 1998 however, in writing a pro-Muslim poem, which was classified as "hate speech" (however, he was only quoting a famous Turkish nationalist, Ziya Gokalp,[15] who actually wrote the words).[16] He was taken to jail, but not before a 2,000 car envoy consisting of his most ardent supporters followed his escort to prison in solidarity.[16] The quote stated "[o]ur minarets are our bayonets, Our domes are our helmets, Our mosques are our barracks. We will put a final end to ethnic segregation. No one can ever intimidate us. If the skies and the ground were to open against us. If floods and volcanoes were to burst, We will not turn from our mission. My reference is Islam. If I am not able to speak of this, What is the use of living?"[16] He served four of a ten month sentence.[17]

[n. 8] Erdogan's tall stature has probably proved intimidating to European leaders.