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The Big Picture brings together a range of PS commentaries to give readers a comprehensive understanding of topics in the news – and the deeper issues driving the news. The Big Question features concise contributor analysis and predictions on timely topics.
The Sultan's New Clothes
Turkey's plummeting currency and escalating feud with the United States would seem to suggest that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's populist turn has suddenly caught up with him. And yet, for those who were paying attention, Turkey's crisis comes as no surprise.
In this Big Picture, Jim O'Neill reminds us that Turkey has been headed for a currency devaluation at least since 2013, when monetary conditions in advanced economies began to tighten. And Sinan Ülgen explains how Erdoğan has made matters worse by overemphasizing growth at the expense of structural reforms.
Moreover, Nina L. Khrushcheva points out that Erdoğan precipitated the currency crisis by embracing economic pseudoscience. Mohamed El-Erian notes that Erdoğan has doubled-down on his unconventional approach by eschewing the standard crisis-management response. And, on the diplomatic front, Richard N. Haass argues that Erdoğan's illiberal policies and aggressive behavior require the West to reconsider its relationship with a once-valuable ally.
