The second half of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's more than two-decade reign has been a tale of deepening authoritarianism. Analysts say the arrest of the Turkish leader's most popular political opponent on contested charges may be its most dangerous chapter to date.

Turkey’s president has accused the political opposition of “sinking the economy” during the country’s largest protests in more than a decade.

Only last week, its government was still what political scientists call a competitive authoritarian regime: although President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wields unchecked executive powers and de facto control over the courts and most of the media,