Nadia Idle speaks to Turkish journalist and author Ece Temelkuran about the potency of crowds. Reflecting on their experiences in Tahrir Square and Gezi Park, they talk about feeling powerful in political demonstrations, why raves might be infantilising rather than inspiring, and how Covid-19 has put an end to free assembly.

Ece, twice named Turkey’s “most read political columnist”, has published several novels as well as 2019’s How to Lose a Country: The 7 Steps from Democracy to Dictatorship, chronicling the rise of right-wing populism in Turkey and the west. She was awarded the Human Rights Association of Turkey’s Ayşe Zarakolu Freedom of Thought Award in 2008.

Books: Ece Temelkuran – How to Lose a Country: The 7 steps from Democracy to Dictatorship / Nadia Idle and Alex Nunns – Tweets from Tahrir / Elias Canetti – Crowds and Power

You can read more of Ece’s work on her website: https://ecetemelkuran.com

Produced by Matt Huxley and Chal Ravens.