While the post-election balance of power has significantly increased the stakes for both the AKP and the opposition, Turkish politics has, at least for now, entered a period of détente and dialogue rather than a new spiral of political tension. But make no mistake, this is not a return to democracy and normalcy in Turkey.

Erdogan at Crossroads Once More Turkey's local elections on March 31st surprisingly saved Turkey's opposition from obsolescence and restored its credibility, severely damaged after last year's disappointing presidential elections. For the first time in two decades, the AKP found itself in the second position in an election. Moreover, the CHP's re-elected mayor of Istanbul, Imamoğlu, proved his political skills as a charismatic leader capable of challenging President Erdoğan. Meanwhile, the AKP and its Islamist and nationalist allies have clearly lost votes, signaling discontent among Erdoğan's base. This new reality of Turkish politics leaves Erdoğan with two alternative paths: one that aims to save the economy and thus remove one of the root causes of discontent, or a more authoritarian one that seeks to curb dissent through more oppression. Both paths have their own risks and opportunities for Erdoğan.

Ecevit’s memories is useful to understand contemporary CHP’s support for Erdogan’s military operations in Syria and Iraq or anti-American stance. It shows that strategic autonomy in foreign policy, military expansionism, and transactionalism in Turkish-American relations have an appeal across ideologies in Turkey’s political landscape.

What does explain this politically, economically, and strategically costly decision that has not brought any added value to Turkey’s military power or defense? Lisel Hintz and David E. Banks argues that S-400s, thanks to the government propaganda, have turned into a political symbol of defiance against the U.S. and strategic autonomy so much that President Erdogan could not retract his S-400 decision. Although Hintz and Banks’ article provides a strong theoretical background to understand Ankara’s S-400 decision, the issue still provides opportunities for new studies.

Erdogan's blackmailing diplomacy led to a loss of credibility and a lack of trust about Turkey. While Turkey's demands were mostly rejected, it eventually gave up its leverage occasionally with modest gains.

War-weary Europe is anxiously waiting for a sign of an end to the conflict in Ukraine. In 2023, the world witnessed ongoing brutal Russian aggressions, stiff Ukrainian resistance and an unsuccessful counterattack, and indecisive actions by the United States that worried European leaders who continue to support Ukraine and impose sanctions on Russia. As the war persists, its political and economic toll on the continent has escalated.

28 Temmuz 2024 Pazar günü Venezuela'da gerçekleştirilen tek turlu başkanlık seçimi sonuçlarını instituDE üyesi ve Latin Amerika Uzmanı Dr. İmdat Öner ile instituDE Dış Politika Analisti Haşim Tekineş değerlendirdiler.

Orta Doğu uzmanı Mehmet Akif Koç ve instituDE Dış Politika Analisti Haşim Tekineş İran'ın yeni cumhurbaşkanı Mesud Pezişkiyân'ı, reformist olup olmadığını, nasıl bir profile sahip olduğunu, seçim sonuçlarına dair çeşitli detayları ve bir sonraki İran ruhani lideri dahil olmak üzere pek çok hususu ele aldılar.

ran ve Ortadoğu uzmanı Mehmet Akif Koç ve instituDE politika analisti Haşim Tekineş'in 19 Mayıs Pazar akşamı saat 20.00'den itibaren gerçekleştirdikleri, İran cumhurbaşkanı Reisi'nin helikopter kazası hakkındaki twitter Space yayınımızın kaydıdır.

18 Ekim Çarşamba günü Ömer Güler, Enes Esen, Servet Akman, Haşim Tekineş ve İmdat Öner İsrail-Hamas Savaşı'na dair hastane saldırısı dahil son gelişmeleri, Gazze'ye kara harekatını, Türkiye'nin gelişmelere dair tepkilerini ve savaşın küresel ve bölgesel sonuçlarını Twitter Space yayınında ele aldılar.

As Russia has initiated its onslaught against Ukraine, the Turkish position has tilted towards the attitudes of other NATO countries, although it remains cautious in an attempt to not raise Moscow’s ire.

If Erdoğan is voted out of office, no one in Washington or Brussels should expect Turkey to suddenly turn into a docile and obedient ally. Structural changes in the international environment, broader bureaucratic and ideological trends in Turkey, and new facts on the ground that Erdoğan has created will all limit the potential for “normalization” in post-Erdoğan Turkey.

Turkey has maintained strong dialogue with NATO and EU countries despite increasing differences regarding foreign policy matters. Meanwhile, Turkey’s intensifying relations with authoritarian states is one of the striking trends between 2010 and 2020.

elations between Turkey and Qatar have flourished within the past decade, particularly after the 2017 Gulf boycott against the latter. Yet efforts by Ankara and Doha to normalize diplomatic relations with Gulf countries and Egypt raise doubts about the future of bilateral relations between Turkey and Qatar. For sure, neither Turkey nor Qatar have any interest in ending their mutually beneficial bilateral relations.

Geopolitical, ideological, and socio-economic quandaries will continue to haunt processes of normalization in the Middle East subsequent to the US’s gradual withdrawal from the region. Underlying issues remain unresolved despite diplomatic relaxation, and the power vacuum left behind by the US has the potential to rekindle regional rivalries and trigger proxy wars worse than those seen under the Obama and Trump administrations.

With its endless wars, crises, massacres, and turmoil, the Middle East is seen as hopeless geography today. It was much better than this throughout the 20th century, but it had never been so hopeless, exhausted, and desperate. There is no more new ideas, projects, or emotions that motivate and energize Arab street around itself.

Evolution of Erdoğan's Victory Speeches From 2002 to 2023

Rusya’nın Ukrayna’yı işgali büyük güçler arasında son yıllarda artan rekabetin nerelere varabileceğini çok açık bir şekilde herkese göstermiş oldu. Y kuşağının tarih kitaplarından okuduğu felaket senaryolarının günümüzde de pekâlâ yaşanabileceğini görmüş olduk.