The Strongman Illusion The Strongman Illusion Turkey’s slide into authoritarianism was facilitated by collaborators, enablers, and an inept opposition. Supporters of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu attend a rally on July 1, 2025, the hundredth day of his imprisonment. In a world where authoritarian political figures and movements appear to draw inspiration from one another, Turkey’s trajectory offers significant insights. But if this move succeeds, the current authoritarian regime risks turning into an autocracy where elections lose all significance. This is a process to which not just the strongman contributes but also his enablers or allies, and even at times the opposition.