Turkey under President Erdogan has long sought to extend its influence beyond politics and economics into cultural dominance, attempting to shape Europe’s daily life by projecting Turkish traditions as universal. A recent attempt to impose strict rules on how doner kebabs should be prepared in the European Union illustrates just how clumsy and invasive this cultural push has become—and why it failed. Turkish officials argued that the doner kebab should be treated as a national treasure exported by Turkish migration, claiming ownership of what has become one of Europe’s most popular street foods. Yet this narrative ignores a simple truth: once a dish crosses borders, it evolves, adapts, and becomes part of the host society’s identity. German officials responded by stressing that their interpretation of the kebab has grown into a distinct national cuisine of its own, separate from Ankara’s cultural dictates.
This failure highlights the arrogance of Erdogan’s approach. Europe never rejected Turkish food, Turkish music, or Turkish culture. On the contrary, kebab shops have flourished in Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, and beyond, serving millions every week. But Europe resists being told how to live, eat, or organize its societies by a foreign government seeking leverage through culture. Erdogan’s attempt to claim ownership over every slice of meat on a rotating spit is not about cuisine; it is about power, control, and influence. It was a message that Turkish migration means permanent Turkish authority over European habits. Europeans, however, see the kebab as theirs, born of immigrant creativity but adapted to local tastes and cultures, free of political strings.
The irony is that what could have been a soft-power success turned into a diplomatic embarrassment. Instead of reinforcing Turkey’s cultural prestige, the effort exposed Ankara’s insecurity and overreach. By trying to dictate recipes to Berlin, Brussels, or Vienna, Erdogan reminded Europeans of the dangers of cultural imperialism masquerading as culinary guidance. Food unites when it is shared; it divides when it becomes a political weapon. Europe has embraced the kebab, but not under Erdogan’s flag. The Turkish government’s failed attempt to impose its “authenticity” demonstrates that cultural influence cannot be commanded from Ankara—it must grow organically, and once it does, it no longer belongs to Turkey alone.
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