Sign language

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

Turkey: Empire of Erdogan

Documentaries

Factual: Politics

The story of Turkish president Erdogan’s rise to power.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan - the most controversial president in modern Turkish history. What is behind his rise from prison to power - and his ruthless determination to stay at the top?

The inside story of Erdogan’s astonishing rise to power. With first-hand testimony from former president Abdullah Gul, former prime ministers, deputy PMs, party chiefs, opposition figures, analysts and journalists, this two-part series is a gripping and detailed account of the many battles Erdogan has had to fight along the way.

Episode 1

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

David Morrissey

Gabriel Range

Marta Garcia Aliaga

Sarah Waldron

Turkey: Empire of Erdogan: Series 1: Episode 1

Series 1

BBC Two - Turkey: Empire of Erdogan, Series 1, Episode 1

Erdogan’s rise to power and how his initial popularity turns to mass protests against him.

Erdogan becomes mayor of Istanbul, is imprisoned and banned from politics, but fights back and wins the election. Ten years of Erdogan’s rule lead to mass protests in Istanbul.

Growing up at a time of chronic political turbulence in Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan joins an Islamist party and becomes hugely popular as mayor of Istanbul. In the 1990s, Turkish politics is bitterly divided on the question of religion and politics, so when the party Erdogan belongs to is shut down, Erdogan is sent to jail and banned from being an MP for life.

In prison, Erdogan plots an astonishing comeback, creating a new, more moderate party which sweeps to power in 2002. It overturns his ban from politics and makes him prime minister.

In his early years in power, Erdogan transforms Turkey, gaining ever more support at home and abroad. But he knows that to feel safe in power, he needs to deal with the all-powerful military. He forms an alliance with a cleric, Fethullah Gulen, and together they plot to remove hundreds of high-ranking officers and judges, and replace them with followers of Gulen.   

After ten years of Erdogan’s rule, a demonstration about plans to redevelop Gezi Park in Istanbul becomes a massive protest movement that threatens to topple his government.

Turkey: Empire of Erdogan: Series 1

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Turkey: Empire of Erdogan

Series 1

Episode 1

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC Two HD

About BBC Two