Opinions - Turkey

Why does Erdoğan visit Africa so often?

Why does Erdoğan visit Africa so often?

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 23 February 2022
Erdoğan’s trips to Sub-Saharan Africa are not only about bilateral relations and opportunities for improving Turkey’s economic footprint in the countries of the region. Equally if not more significant, these visits to Africa are carefully planned to boost Erdoğan’s image among his supporters that Turkey is a global actor competing with the foreign powers and Erdoğan is a powerful and well-respected leader in the world.
Why are Turkey and the UAE mending the fences between them?

Why are Turkey and the UAE mending the fences between them?

by Enes Esen, published on 16 February 2022
Turkish President Erdoğan travelled to the United Arab Emirates on February 14, hoping to develop the momentum Turkey has captured with the UAE. Erdoğan has been given a warm and friendly welcome after touching down in Abu Dhabi.
Tunus’ta Düşen Son Kale ve Türkiye’nin Sessizliği

Tunus’ta Düşen Son Kale ve Türkiye’nin Sessizliği

by Enes Esen, published on 10 February 2022
2011 yılında Tunus Cumhurbaşkanı Bin Ali’yi gösteriler sonrası devrildiğinde bölgede bir umut dalgası oluşmuş ve esen rüzgar kısa sürede Mısır, Suriye, Libya ve Yemen başta olmak üzere bütün Arap ülkelerini etkilemişti. Arap Baharının yaşandığı diğer ülkelerde olduğu gibi, Tunus’ta da rüzgar son zamanlarda tersten esiyor.
Where Does Turkey Fit in 2021 Africa Cup of Nations?

Where Does Turkey Fit in 2021 Africa Cup of Nations?

by Enes Esen, published on 3 February 2022
Hosting the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations was a source of pride and prestige for Cameroonians whose passion for football was evidently on display throughout the tournament over the past few weeks. However, their love for football did not come cheap. As part of the requirements for hosting a tournament, the African Football Confederation demanded hefty projects.
A Foreign Ministry without Ears, Tongues and Eyes

A Foreign Ministry without Ears, Tongues and Eyes

by Ömer Güler, published on 17 January 2022
The adventurist foreign policy of President Erdoğan has long been criticized by the pundits. No doubt that his reckless and unpredictable character has plunged Turkey deeper into many foreign policy crises. However, putting all the blame on Erdoğan for the epic failure in Turkish foreign policy is misleading. One must investigate the structural and long-lasting problems of the Turkish Foreign Ministry to better understand the reasons of this failure.
‘ÜSTÜNLER’İN ÖFKESİ'

‘ÜSTÜNLER’İN ÖFKESİ'

by Muhammed Sevim, published on 20 December 2021
Türkiye’de Kemalist ve/veya Ulusalcı olarak tanımlanan ve kendilerini ülkenin kurucusu ve yegane sahibi olarak nitelendiren insanlar, bugüne kadar yapageldikleri Batılılaşma vurgusuna rağmen demokrasi, insan hakları, hukuk devleti ve eşitlik gibi kavramları bir türlü içselleştiremediler ve bunlara yönelik diğer gruplardan gelen talepleri de görmezden geldiler.

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

Gazze ve İnstagram

August 10, 2024
by Haşim Tekineş, Ali Dinçer and Harun R. Halisoğlu, published on 18 August 2024
Ali Dinçer, Harun Reşit Halisoğlu ve Haşim Tekineş Türkiye'nin Uluslararası Adalet Divanı'nda görülen #Gazze soykırım davasına müdahil olmasını, #CHP'nin #Paris çıkarmasını, #İngiltere'de yaşanan sokak olaylarını ve Türkiye'de bu hafta getirilen #İnstagram yasağını ele aldılar.

Haftanın Ortası - Suikastler, Savaşlar ve Seçimler

August 1, 2024
by Ali Dinçer and Haşim Tekineş, published on 1 August 2024
Ali Dinçer ve Haşim Tekineş'in haftanın öne çıkan uluslararası gündemlerini ele aldıkları yeni yayınımızda, İsrail'in Hamas liderlerine yönelik suikast saldırıları, Erdoğan'ın İsrail'e yönelik açıklamaları, bölgesel savaş senaryoları ve ABD seçim sürecine ilişkin son gelişmeler değerlendirildi.

Trump Turkiye'ye Ne Yapar?

July 18, 2024
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 18 July 2024
ABD Başkanlık Seçimlerini kazanacağı tahmin edilen Trump'ın 2. dönemi beraberinde neler getirecek? instituDE dış politika analisti Haşim Tekineş yanıtladı.

Hakan Fidan'dan Çin'in Uygur Politikasına Destek

June 18, 2024
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 17 June 2024
#DışGündem'de instituDE Dış Politika Analisti Haşim Tekineş, #HakanFidan'ın 3-5 Haziran tarihlerinde #Çin ve #Uygur bölgesine yaptığı ziyareti çeşitli boyutlarıyle ele aldı.

AİHM ve Yalçınkaya Kararından Şüphelenmeli Miyiz?

April 26, 2024
by Hakan Kaplankaya and Mehmet Bozkaya, published on 26 April 2024
Hukuk Günlüğü'nün yeni bölümünde Hakan Kaplankaya ve Mehmet Bozkaya AİHM ve Yalçınkaya kararı hakkındaki şüphe ve tereddütleri ele aldılar.

Erdoğan ve Biden Arasında Soğuk Rüzgarlar Mı Esiyor?

April 22, 2024
by Haşim Tekineş and Ömer Murat, published on 22 April 2024
instituDE DışGündem'de Dış Politika Uzmanı Ömer Murat, Erdoğan ve Biden arasındaki soğukluğa, Erdoğan'ın Vaşington ziyaretinin iptaline, Rasmussen planının detaylarına ve İran ile İsrail arasındaki savaş tiyatrosuna ilişkin Haşim Tekineş'in sorularını yanıtladı.