Kako ostati bez domovine: Sedam koraka od demokracije do diktature

How to Lose a Homeland: Seven Steps from Democracy to Dictatorship is the work of Turkish journalist and writer Ece Temelkuran, who, based on personal experiences and political analysis, describes how democracies around the world are slowly, almost imperceptibly, turning into authoritarian regimes. After having to leave Turkey for writing critically about the government, the author uses her example as a warning – what happened in her country can happen anywhere.

The book is structured in seven steps that lead to the loss of democracy: from the manipulation of public discourse and fake news, through the demonization of “others”, to the complete control of institutions and the breakdown of trust among citizens. Temelkuran compares the processes in Turkey with those in Hungary, the United States, Poland and other countries, emphasizing the universality of political mechanisms that encourage populism and hatred.

The author combines a personal story with an analysis of social trends, writing passionately but lucidly about the erosion of truth and empathy. Despite its pessimistic insights, the book is also an appeal for renewed solidarity, dialogue, and the courage to speak out against injustice.

How to Be Left Without a Homeland is a powerful, engaging work that exposes contemporary threats to democracy and calls on the reader not to be a passive witness to their spread.