ISTANBUL —
Confronted with widespread protests two summers ago, Prime Minister Recep Erdogan of Turkey ordered a harsh crackdown and tarnished the demonstrators as traitors and spies. Faced with a corruption inquiry focused on his inner circle, he responded by purging the police and judiciary.
So when Erdogan, now president, suffered a stinging electoral defeat in June that left his party without a majority in Parliament and seemingly dashed his hopes of establishing an executive presidency, Turks wondered how he would respond.
Many say they have their answer: a new war.
As Turkey resumes military operations against the separatist Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, analysts see a calculated strategy for Erdogan’s Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party to regain its parliamentary majority in new elections.