The Hertog Scholar at the Center for Strategic Studies, Eric Edelman has had a distinguished career in government, serving as ambassador to Turkey and to Finland, and as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy in the George W. Bush administration. In this Conversation, Edelman considers the rise of authoritarianism around the globe and explains why it threatens world order. Drawing on his extensive knowledge of Turkish history and politics, Edelman highlights the descent of Turkey into an Islamist, authoritarian regime under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Finally, Edelman recalls momentous events from his career in foreign service, including serving in Russia during the collapse of the Soviet Union and his appointment to Turkey during the Iraq War.