"According to this view, democracy is a product of western culture, and it cannot be applied to the Middle East which has a different cultural, religious, sociological and historical background"

This quote by Recep Tayyip Erdogan shows a point of view on the universality of democratic concepts and their applicability across different cultural and historical contexts. Erdogan suggests that democracy, often characterized by complimentary elections, the rule of law, and specific rights, is naturally a product of Western civilization. This indicates that democratic structures, which have been developed and fine-tuned in the context of Western historical, cultural, and philosophical experiences, might not seamlessly suit societies with distinct cultural, religious, and historic stories, such as those in the Middle East.

From this viewpoint, the universality of democracy is questioned, or at least, its application is viewed as requiring adaptation to local contexts. This viewpoint acknowledges the variety in cultural and social structures worldwide, acknowledging that the Middle Eastern experience is shaped by distinct influences, including Islamic customs, tribal associations, and historical legacies of colonialism and authoritarianism. As such, the adoption of Western-style democratic systems without taking into consideration these local specifics may result in misconceptions, ineffectiveness, or rejection.

Erdogan's statement also implicitly critiques the Western-centric approach that often presupposes a one-size-fits-all model of governance as the ideal or standard. It challenges the notion that Western democracy can be transplanted without modification. This argument is often utilized to highlight failures in diplomacy where external efforts to impose democratic systems have led to dispute or instability. It suggests the need for a more nuanced technique that respects sovereignty and the particularities of each country's path to governance and self-determination.

Eventually, Erdogan's point of view kinds part of a wider discourse on cultural relativism in global politics, urging the need to think about varied cultural heritages and historical realities as important to discussions on governance and political development. It calls for a synthesis of democratic concepts with local customs to make sure that governance systems are perceived as legitimate and efficient by their populations.