Opinions - Turkey

The Cracks in CHP: The Breaking of the Fellowship?

The Cracks in CHP: The Breaking of the Fellowship?

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 5 July 2023
Turkey’s main opposition party, CHP, has not yet recovered from the trauma of its recent election defeat. Despite the challenges posed by President Erdogan's extensive access to public resources for campaigning, his complete control over the media, and various election manipulations, it was a notable achievement for Kilicdaroglu to secure 48% of the votes. However, a segment of the opposition holds the view that Kilicdaroglu, who has been leading the party for 13 years, cannot fully realize the CHP’s potential. This discrepancy between expectations and reality is causing instability within the CHP's leadership.
Is the US blackmailing Turkey over Sweden?

Is the US blackmailing Turkey over Sweden?

by Enes Esen, published on 30 June 2023
The US and Swedish authorities are currently investigating graft allegations involving Bilal Erdoğan, the son of Turkey's President, according to a Reuters special report. These allegations have significant implications, as they could constitute a criminal offense under certain circumstances. However, as the report points out, there is a possibility that they may not even lead to formal charges. Interestingly, the Turkish side seems to have minimal interest in the substance of the allegations or its judicial implications.
The Era of Normalization: Turkey-Gulf Relations After al-Ula Summit

The Era of Normalization: Turkey-Gulf Relations After al-Ula Summit

by Haşim Tekineş, published 22 June 2023
Turkey and the Gulf countries have initiated a normalization process since the al-Ula Summit in late 2020. The leaders have mended fences through high-level visits, diplomatic overtures, promises of investments, and dozens of agreements. Turkey has already started to reap the benefits of normalization in terms of economic and diplomatic relations. It is difficult to forecast how long this period of authoritarian peace will last, but it is promising to witness the success of diplomacy in the region.
Latin American Left's Strong Endorsement of Erdogan

Latin American Left's Strong Endorsement of Erdogan

by İmdat Öner, published on 7 Juni 2023
President Erdogan's recent re-election victory in Turkey's runoff election against his main opposition candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, has garnered widespread attention. What is particularly intriguing is the show of support for Turkey’s conservative politician Erdogan from leftist leaders in South America, including Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, Lula da Silva of Brazil, and Evo Morales of Bolivia.
Will Turkey Drop Its Objections to Sweden’s Accession to NATO?

Will Turkey Drop Its Objections to Sweden’s Accession to NATO?

by Enes Esen, published on 3 June 2023
Sweden’s accession to NATO represents a milestone in shaping the security dynamics of the alliance. Using different pretexts, Erdoğan has consistently hindered Sweden's desired accession to NATO so far. With his triumph in the elections, the good news for NATO members is that they have a window of opportunity to negotiate with Erdoğan. 
Post-Election Turkey: More Repression at Home, More Diplomacy in the World

Post-Election Turkey: More Repression at Home, More Diplomacy in the World

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 1 June 2023
Turkey has left behind its election period with the second round of presidential runoff on May 28. Proving his invincibility to economic woes, natural disasters, and refuge crisis, Erdogan won another victory against the opposition coalition. But Erdogan is not the only winner of the elections. Turkish nationalism continues to gain momentum in the Turkish politics. However, it is important to note that nationalism may lead to greater repression within domestic politics. Paradoxically, President Erdogan appears to adopt a more diplomatic approach to foreign policy.

Reports - Turkey

Electrifying Turkey's Roads: EV Adoption Scenarios & Their Impact on Oil Imports

Electrifying Turkey's Roads: EV Adoption Scenarios & Their Impact on Oil Imports

by Baki Kaya, Ömer Güler, Harun Güngör, and Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 10 September 2025
This study evaluates, through long-term projections to 2053, the potential impact of increased EV penetration on Turkey’s energy landscape. It provides a comparative assessment of how changes in the share of EVs within the total vehicle fleet, across several scenario frameworks, could influence fuel demand and petroleum import volumes. A second, closely related objective is to measure the scale of Turkey’s oil dependency in order to establish a basis for examining its policy implications.
Geopolitical Constraints of Turkey's Energy Hub Ambitions

Geopolitical Constraints of Turkey's Energy Hub Ambitions

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 8 July 2025
This study focuses on the geopolitical dimensions and constraints shaping Turkey’s ambition to become a natural gas hub. The emphasis is on Turkey’s diplomatic relations with key supplier countries, the political instability across the wider Middle East, and the limited capacity of neighboring states to produce and export gas reliably—factors that collectively can make or undermine Turkey’s hub ambitions.
MODERNIZING THE TURKEY–EU CUSTOMS UNION: ISSUES AND PROSPECTS

MODERNIZING THE TURKEY–EU CUSTOMS UNION: ISSUES AND PROSPECTS

by instituDE, published in March 2025
The Turkey–EU Customs Union, established in 1995, has been a defining feature of trade relations between Turkey and the European Union. Over the past three decades, the global economic landscape has evolved significantly, necessitating a modernization of the agreement to address new trade realities, regulatory developments, and emerging geopolitical challenges.
TURKEY‘S MASS PURGE AS VIOLATIONS OF THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC SERVICE IN ICCPR

TURKEY‘S MASS PURGE AS VIOLATIONS OF THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC SERVICE IN ICCPR

by instituDE, published on 23 October 2024
'A gift from God' was one of Erdoğan's first descriptions related to coup attempt in July 15. At first no one realized that God's gift meant a chaotic environment in which he needed to declare a national emergency with no checks and balances and then transform Türkiye’s parliamentary democracy into an executive presidency.
JUDICIAL CORRUPTION IN TÜRKİYE

JUDICIAL CORRUPTION IN TÜRKİYE

by instituDE and Arrested Lawyers, published on October 2024
This submission to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) highlights severe issues undermining the integrity of Türkiye's judiciary, particularly focusing on rampant judicial corruption and impunity as well as human rights abuses which they facilitate. Based on the most recent incidents of corruption concerning members of the judiciary who serve in courts in Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara, this report seeks to examine the high-level corruption within the judiciary and the Turkish government’s failure or even willful ignorance in addressing it.
TURKEY'S GROWING ROLE IN GLOBAL COCAINE TRAFFICKING

TURKEY'S GROWING ROLE IN GLOBAL COCAINE TRAFFICKING

by Dr. İmdat Öner, Halil Çavuş, Ömer Güler and Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 17 September 2024
This report focuses on Turkey's prominence as an emerging market for cocaine trafficking and organized crime in the last decade. Cocaine production in Latin America has dramatically increased since 2013, and Turkey’s status as an emerging market has attracted the attention of Latin American government officials on the front lines of the cocaine trade.

Videos - Turkey

Erdoğan'ın Tunus'ta Unuttuğu Dostları

October 5, 2023
by Haşim Tekineş and Mehmet Çelik, published on 5 October 2023
Dışı İçi Bir'de bu hafta Haşim Tekineş ve Tunus'ta görev yapmış eski diplomat Mehmet Çelik Tunus'un demokratikleşme serüvenini, ülkenin otoriterleşmeye savrulmasını ve Tunus'ta yaşanan son gelişmeleri ele aldılar.

Tarihi Erdoğan - Netanyahu Görüşmesi

September 29, 2023
by Haşim Tekineş and Servet Akman, published on 29 September 2023
Dışı İçi Bir'de Haşim Tekineş ve Servet Akman BM Zirvesi çeçevesinde Erdoğan'ın New York'ta gerçekleştirdiği temasları, Netanyahu ile 20 Eylül'de gerçekleştirdiği görüşmeyi, Türkiye-İsrail ilişkilerini ve İsrail'de yaşanan hukuk reformu çerçevesinde yaşanan son gelişmeleri ele aldılar.

Yalçınkaya Kararı: AİHM'den Uyarı

September 27, 2023
by Haşim Tekineş and Hakan Kaplankaya
Dış Gündem'in bu yayınında Haşim Tekineş ve Hakan Kaplankaya AİHM'in 26 Eylül'de açıkladığı Yalçınkaya davasını tüm yönleriyle ele aldılar.

AİHM'den tarihi Bylock ve BankAsya kararı: Kimler için emsal olacak?

September 27, 2023
by Hakan Kaplankaya, published on 27 September 2023
instituDE üyesi ve insan hakları uzmanı Hakan Kaplankaya katıldığı programda AİHM'in dün açıkladığı Yalçınkaya kararını ve olası sonuçlarını değerlendirdi.

Yalçınkaya Kararı İçin Geri Sayım Başladı

September 13, 2023
by Hakan Kaplankaya, published on 13 October 2023
instituDE HukukGünlüğü'nün bu bölümünde Hakan Kaplankaya AİHM'in 26 Eylül 2023 tarihinde açıklaması beklenen Yalçınkaya kararına ilişkin beklentileri, olası sonuçlarını ve benzer davalarda yargılananların için genel af kapsamına alınma olasılığını ele aldı.

Kritik Soçi Görüşmesi

September 7, 2023
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 7 September 2023
Dış Gündem'de bu hafta instituDE üyesi Haşim Tekineş, Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan'ın Rusya Devlet Başkanı Putin'e Soçi'de yaptığı ziyareti çeşitli boyutlarıyla analiz etti.