About this episode

Ece Temelkuran discusses the gradual collapse of democracies and the societal adaptations that enable authoritarianism.

Warning: moderate strong language Ece Temelkaran is an award-winning journalist and novelist who has spent years warning that the collapse of democracy rarely announces itself with a bang. Instead, it happens gradually - institution is weaken, truth is eroded and what once felt unthinkable becomes normal. Ece knows this first hand. After being fired from her newspaper in Turkey amid mounting political pressure, she watched her country slide towards what she says is authoritarianism, a story she believes is no longer uniquely Turkish but part of a wider global pattern. In her writing, she argues that the real danger isn't just strong men or populist leaders, but how easily societies adapt to them. Her latest book, Nation of Strangers, explores belonging and exile. But beneath it lies the same urgent question that has defined much of her work. How do democracies fail? And can they still be saved? On this episode of Ways to Change the World, Krishnan Guru-Murthy speaks to Ece about democratic backsliding, the moral crisis she believes sits at the heart of modern politics, the experience of exile, and why rebuilding democracy may require not just political change, but a deeper…

People in this episode

Host: Krishnan Guru-Murthy

Guest: Ece Temelkuran

Topics covered

• democracy
• authoritarianism
• political change
• exile
• societal adaptation
• moral crisis

Keywords

• democracy
• collapse
• authoritarianism
• Ece Temelkuran
• Nation of Strangers
• politics
• exile
• society

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Channel 4 News

Books & works: Nation of Strangers

Places: Turkey

More episodes of Ways to Change the World with Krishnan Guru-Murthy

• Amanda Knox: the cost of being wrongfully convicted · April 24, 2026 · 46 min
• How bipolar and ADHD shaped Heston Blumenthal’s creative genius · March 20, 2026 · 47 min
• Eric Schlosser: Why the real cost of cheap food is hidden · March 13, 2026 · 41 min
• Guardian editor Katharine Viner: “Facts are essential, but they’re not enough” · February 27, 2026 · 42 min
• ‘We are being beaten into submission with lies’ - writer George Saunders on Trump, truth and power · February 20, 2026 · 42 min
• Clara Mattei: capitalism is not natural - it’s enforced · February 13, 2026 · 38 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Ways to Change the World with Krishnan Guru-Murthy podcast page.