When an Ally Treats Protests Harshly Turkey has been hailed as a "model" of democracy in the Middle East. But its growing middle class is demanding more freedoms than its prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, seems prepared to give. The recent protests highlight frustrations with policies that may hinder economic growth. Are these protests symbolic of a more serious threat to the balance of power in the region? How should the United States respond to the Turkish government's reaction to dissent?