Opinions - Turkey

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.
The effect of uncertainty in the aftermath of the coup attempt in 2016

The effect of uncertainty in the aftermath of the coup attempt in 2016

by Servet Akman, published on 12 December 2021
This is a story of uncertainty, fear, being ostracized and persecution. The story that began seven years ago is still ruining thousands of lives. The story that has found its place in olive oil as a symbol.
(IL)LEGALITY OF THE ‘BYLOCK’ PRACTICES IN TURKEY IN LIGHT OF THE ECtHR’S AKGÜN JUDGMENT AND THE WAY FORWARD

(IL)LEGALITY OF THE ‘BYLOCK’ PRACTICES IN TURKEY IN LIGHT OF THE ECtHR’S AKGÜN JUDGMENT AND THE WAY FORWARD

by Yasir Gökçe, published on 30 November 2021
The finding of the European Court which merits attention is that “as a matter of principle, the mere fact of downloading or using a means of encrypted communication or indeed the use of any other method of safeguarding the private nature of exchanged messages could not in itself amount to evidence capable of satisfying an objective observer that an illegal or criminal activity was being engaged in”.
Merkez Bankası’nın Faiz Kararları Neye Mal Olacak?

Merkez Bankası’nın Faiz Kararları Neye Mal Olacak?

by Harun Güngör, published on November 3, 2021
Merkez Bankası'nın 21 Ekim'de açıkladığı faiz indirimi kararı ekonomi biliminin temellerine aykırı olsa da, bu kararın öncesinde yaşanan üç üst düzey personelin bir gece yarısı operasyonuyla görevden alınması aslında piyasalar için sürprizlerin habercisiydi.
BÜYÜKELÇİLER KRİZİ YENİ BÜYÜK KRİZLERİN HABERCİSİ

BÜYÜKELÇİLER KRİZİ YENİ BÜYÜK KRİZLERİN HABERCİSİ

by Hüseyin Konuş, published on October 31, 2021
Erdoğan’ın aralarında ABD, Almanya, Fransa ve Hollanda’nın da bulunduğu on büyükelçiyi istenmeyen adam (persona non grata) ilan etme kararının ardından, her biri ayrı bir büyük kriz olan bu hadiseler gölgede kaldı. Bir ülkenin yakın ilişkiler içinde olduğu on ülkenin büyükelçisini birden istenmeyen adam ilan etmesi diplomasi tarihinde görülmüş bir hadise değildi çünkü.

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

Şarm el-Şeyh'te Bir Fırsat mı Kaçırıldı?

October 14, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 14 October 2025
Mısır'da ABD başkanı Donald Trump, Erdoğan ve 20 ülke başkanının katılımıyla büyük bir Gazze barış zirvesi gerçekleştirildi. Peki Zirve bekleneni verebildi mi? Türkiye Gazze'ye asker gönderecek mi? Riskler neler? Asker göndermeye niyetli başka ülkeler hangisi?

Erdoğan'ın Amerika'da Mutlu Günü

September 25, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 25 September 2025
Erdoğan'ın Beyaz Saray ziyareti ve Türk-Amerikan ilişkileri. Peki sonuç ne? Yaptırımlar, S-400, F-35ler...; 'Erdoğan hileli seçimler iyi bilir'; Gazetecilerin performansı; Erdoğan'a yeşil ışık; Gazze.

Amerika'nın Katar ve Polonya Sınavları

September 11, 2025
İsrail Katar'ı vurdu. Rus İHA'ları ise Polonya hava sahasını işgal etti. Amerika'nın tepkisi ne olacak?
by Mehmet Demirbaş and Haşim Tekineş, published on 11 September 2025

Çin Merkezli Dünyada Türkiye

September 5, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 5 September 2025
Çin Şanghay Zirvesi'nde hangi mesajları verdi? Trump'ın politikalarının bu mesajlar üzerinde etkisi ne? Türkiye Çin ile olan ilişkilerınde nasıl bir denge takip ediyor?

Ankara Suriye'de Vites mi Yükseltiyor?

August 28, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 28 August 2025
Türkiye Suriye'deki açmazdan nasıl kurtulacak. Alternatif politika arayışları neler? Türkiye İsrail'e karşı daha cesur politikalar izleyebilir mi? İsrail bir NATO ülkesini vurmaya cesaret edebilir mi?

Türkiye'nin Rejimi ve Uluslararası Dengeler

July 6, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 6 July 2025
Türkiye'de rejim mi değişiyor? İmamoğlu'nun tutukluluğu ve CHP'li belediyeler üzerinde artan baskı ne anlama geliyor? Uluslararası dengeler Erdoğan'a içeride baskıyı artırma imkanı veriyor.