The world might have people like Erdogan hold less powerful positions if large social platforms like Twitter didn't enable populism and suppression so easily.

Don’t agree with this. People really want to elect these politicians and they significantly represent the culture.

There can be an element of force to how they win but it is not the whole picture.

Have to accept that there are a lot of people with reasons to support these politicians

Okay, half a point.

However, Twitter wasn't instrumental in getting Erdogan elected in 2003.

TV/Radio has been his thing:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-13746679

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/30/turkey-closes-...

Poverty and lack of education empower folks like Erdogan.