Erdogan Can Win By Engaging Turkey’s Park Protesters

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been in tighter spots: He was thrown in jail for alleged Islamism, saw his last political party closed down and survived a showdown with the once all-powerful Turkish military.

Yet the street protests that erupted first in Istanbul and then across the country at the end of last month present a challenge he has never faced before. So far, he has mishandled the situation, and on June 6 no sign of backing down. That’s a mistake, because he has the ability to turn the protests to his advantage and the country’s.