An Opening for Erdogan to Shift Turkey’s Course?

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan used his address at the United Nations General Assembly this week as an opportunity to repeat his earlier calls to restructure the U.N. Security Council and to blast Western nations for failing to respond to the crisis in Syria. His strident tone was intended less for an international audience than public sentiment at home. He speaks later this week at the Harvard Club in New York, where he could deliver a constructive message to Turkey’s allies in the world if he comes across as a confident democrat rather than a resentful authoritarian.

His speech Friday presents opportunities: Mr. Erdogan should feel more confident than during his last visit to the U.S. He spoke at the Brookings Institution in Washington in March amid scenes of his security detail insulting and ejecting journalists and dissidents–in some cases even forcibly. A coup effort in July surprised the president, but Mr. Erdogan survived and received support against the putsch from even some of his most vocal domestic critics.

The coup attempt sparked a rally-around-the-flag effect, propelling his approval rating up and giving him cover to consolidate power beyond controversial measures he had already taken. Under a state of emergency declared after the coup effort, the Erdogan government has shut down critical media outlets and appointed trustees to 28 municipalities run by pro-Kurdish elected mayors. It can also bypass parliament through decrees.

This is a moment when Mr. Erdogan could use his unchallenged authority to steer Turkey away from its economic slowdown, polarization, and internecine violence.

During his long and stormy career, Mr. Erdogan’s most constructive steps have come at points when he took risks others would not,such as initiating the Kurdish peace process, enabling religious minorities to receive restitution for confiscated properties, andembracing a robust diplomacy on trade. Had he continued to govern in that vein, Mr. Erdogan might have transformed Turkey and created a model for nations across the Middle East. Instead, as we know, he turned toward authoritarianism.

Mr. Erdogan does, however, have an opportunity to counter the image that has been tarnished by graft probes, crackdowns against peaceful protesters, and hate speech against minorities. As he has proven with his recent rapprochements with Israel and Russia, he has the political capital to reverse course. And as the sole decision-maker in Turkey, he has unrivaled power to initiate reconciliation at home and constructive cooperation abroad.

Turkey can be a key player in the transatlantic alliance when it comes to addressing the Syrian refugee crisis and fighting Islamic State, as well as building stronger institutions, freer politics and markets to the Middle East. There are multiple ways that Mr. Erdogan and his nation would benefit from projecting a message of a Turkey that is less paranoid and committed to improving its international relations. Bitter tirades will not project confidence and leadership. Constructive actions at home and abroad would.

Dr. Aykan Erdemir is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and a former member of the Turkish Parliament. Follow him on Twitter @aykan_erdemir.