Turkish Author - Elif Shafak
Does the West get anywhere close to understanding Turkey's complex culture and politics? Stephen Sackur speaks to Elif Shafak, the Turkish novelist and writer.
Stephen Sackur speaks to Elif Shafak, the Turkish novelist and writer who lives much of her life in London. A dozen years ago Europeans looked at Turkey and thought they saw a country becoming more like them - embracing western values and on a long term track to EU membership. But today Europe sees authoritarianism, conservatism and repression embodied in the all-powerful figure of President Erdogan. Does the West get anywhere close to understanding Turkey's complex culture and politics?
(Photo: Author Elif Shafak taking part in a debate for the BBC's 100 Women season. Credit: Henry Iddon)
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- Wed 24 May 201701:06GMTBBC World Service except News Internet
- Wed 24 May 201706:06GMTBBC World Service Australasia, East and Southern Africa & East Asia only
- Wed 24 May 201707:06GMTBBC World Service Europe and the Middle East
- Wed 24 May 201713:06GMTBBC World Service Australasia
- Wed 24 May 201714:06GMTBBC World Service except Australasia & News Internet
- Wed 24 May 201719:06GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
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