Opinions - Turkey

Legal Disaster That Resulted from Notorious State of Emergency in Turkey

Legal Disaster That Resulted from Notorious State of Emergency in Turkey

by Mehmet Bozkaya, published on 16 July 2020
The coup attempt staged on the night of 15 July 2016, which was carried out under an obscure, bizarre and unexampled plan, was contained in just a few hours. However, it resulted in colossal adverse impacts in various domains including legal matters.
How Anti-Westernism Institutionalized in Turkey After 15/7

How Anti-Westernism Institutionalized in Turkey After 15/7

by Bahadır Gülle, published on 15 July 2020
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that anti-Westernism in Turkey has been institutionalized by the Eurasianist-Islamist alliance in the last six years through controlling media, politicizing education and using judicial procedures as instruments of oppression. Defending good relations with the US or the EU became almost equal to treason in Turkey.
Turkey’s Moment of Inflated Joy After a Seat Won at the UN

Turkey’s Moment of Inflated Joy After a Seat Won at the UN

by Mehmet Çelik, published on 11 July 2020
Ambassador Volkan Bozkır of Turkey has recently been elected as the 75th President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The election of Turkey's candidate understandably created a climate of euphoria across the political spectrum in Turkey.
BM GENEL KURUL BAŞKANLIĞI ZAFERİ (!)

BM GENEL KURUL BAŞKANLIĞI ZAFERİ (!)

by Mehmet Çelik, published on 2 July 2020
Birleşmiş Milletler Genel Kurulu'nun 75. Dönem Başkanlığı'na Türkiye'nin adayı Volkan Bozkır seçildi. Türkiye’nin adayının seçilmesi Erdoğan yanlısı çevrelerde kendini yüceltmenin de ötesine geçen bir zafer sarhoşluğu meydana getirdi.
TÜRK DEVLET AKLININ DEVLETİ YIKMA PRATİĞİ ÜZERİNE

TÜRK DEVLET AKLININ DEVLETİ YIKMA PRATİĞİ ÜZERİNE

by Bahadır Gülle, published on 23 June, 2020
Herhalde başka hiçbir ulusta bizdeki kadar yanlış olduğu son derece belirgin, aklı başında herkesin karşı çıktığı, gereksiz bir savaşa girerek devletimizi yıkıma götürme örneği yoktur. Apolojetik tarihçiliğimiz de bu hataları adeta kutsayarak kalıcı hale getirmeye çalışmaktadır. Devlette gücün az sayıda, kifayetsiz yöneticinin elinde toplanması sonuçları itibariyle vahim kararların alınabilmesine yol açmaktadır.
Drones and the Risks of Regional Escalation for Turkey

Drones and the Risks of Regional Escalation for Turkey

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 20 June, 2020
The military intervention of Turkey changed the balance of power significantly in favor of the GNA, thanks to its drone technology. Developed by Erdogan’s son-in-law, Turkish drones had also wreaked havoc on Syrian targets in Idlib, outsmarting the advanced Russian air defense systems. These achievements boosted morale in Ankara and demonstrated that it has the power to shape developments in the region.

Reports - Turkey

Turkey's Vision For a New Syria

Turkey's Vision For a New Syria

by Mustafa Enes Esen, Haşim Tekineş, Mehmet Demirbaş and Servet Akman, published on 14 February 2026
This report analyzes Turkey’s vision for Syria following the fall of the Assad family and the rise of the HTS under the leadership of Ahmad al-Sharaa. In this regard, it focuses on the foreign actors that, alongside Turkey, now have the greatest ability to shape Syria’s future: namely the United States and Israel.
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.

Videos - Turkey

Türkiye Sokaklarda!

March 24, 2025
by Mehmet Demirbaş and Haşim Tekineş, published on 24 March 2025
Erdoğan sarayında, İmamoğlu hapiste, Türkiye sokaklarda! Türkiye nereye gidiyor? Gösteriler nereye varacak? Dünyanın tepkisi nasıl?

Sivil Darbenin Uluslararası Konjonktürü

March 19, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 19 March 2025
Uluslararası dengeler tek adam rejimini sağlamlaştırması konusunda Erdoğan'a ciddi bir avantaj sağladı.

What is the PKK? Inside Turkey’s Recent Peace Talks

March 12, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 12 March 2025
Turkey has initiated a new round of talks with the Kurdistan Workers' Party, a.k.a. PKK. PKK's founding leader called the group to lay down their weapons and dissolve the organization. The PKK has declared a ceasefire. Turkey seems to be closer to peace more than ever. Yet, ironically, the country is getting more and more authoritarian every passing day. The question is whether the authoritarian peace is possible?

Ve Ticaret Savaşları Başladı!

March 5, 2025
by Mehmet Demirbaş and Haşim Tekineş, published on 5 March 2025
Amerikan Başkanı Donald Trump Kanada, Meksika ve Çin'e gümrük vergileri koydu. Trump AB'ye de vergi koyacağını belirtiyor. Bu vergiler Amerika'yı, dünya ekonomisini ve Türkiye'yi nasıl etkileyecek?

Why Is Erdoğan Unhappy with the US-Russia Talks?

February 20, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 20 February 2025
US President Donald Trump decided to initiate direct talks with Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

Turkey-Turkmenistan Gas Deal: Challenges and Opportunities

February 19, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 19 February 2025
The Turkish government announced this week a deal between Turkey’s state-owned #pipeline operator BOTAŞ and Turkmenistan’s Turkmengaz. Although it is an important deal, it has still significant challenges.