8. "How to Fight Turkey’s Authoritarian Turn" by @berkesen.bsky.social and @sebnemgumuscu.bsky.social muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl...

An article strongly recommended for those interested in the struggle for democracy against populism. 👇👇👇👇👇👇👇 @sebnemgumuscu.bsky.social @berkesen.bsky.social How to Fight Turkey’s Authoritarian Turn muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl...

Our latest article with Berk Esen is published (free to read—link below): We argue that Erdoğan’s increasingly authoritarian regime may soon reach its material and coercive limits, inhibiting Turkey’s transition to hegemonic authoritarianism.

Bugun 19:00’da Apaçık Radyo Bilim Sohbetlerinde!

In their introduction to the issue, the editors reflect on challenges ahead given ongoing attacks against free speech in academia, with Middle East studies at its centre. They also push us, however, to not lose sight of developments in the region. The contributions to the issue aim to do both.

Congratulations to the new editorial team for a wonderfully rich first issue!

Another really interesting (and useful for teaching) issue of the @apsamena.bsky.social Newsletter... with special sections of the question of a "New Regional Order" in the Middle East and the legacies of the Biden Administration's policy towards the Middle East.

Pleased to have contributed to the APSA MENA Newsletter Thanks to the editors @dbgreenwald.bsky.social @sebnemgumuscu.bsky.social @samershehata.bsky.social for putting together such an amazing collection! My piece: zenodo.org/records/1533... The Issue: zenodo.org/records/1538...

Very pleased to share the Spring 2025 issue of the @apsamena.bsky.social newsletter, co-edited with @samershehata.bsky.social and @sebnemgumuscu.bsky.social: zenodo.org/records/1538...

I’m delighted to share the spring issue of MENA Politics—APSA MENA Section’s Newsletter. This is our first issue as the incoming editorial team with amazing Diana Barbara Greenwald and Samer S Shehata. You can download the full issue or individual essays here: zenodo.org/records/1538...

Find here the recording of our panel on 29/4 Turkey at the Crossroads – Is this the End or the Beginning In cooperation with @kreiskyforum.bsky.social With @sebnemgumuscu.bsky.social, @selvinkorkmaz.bsky.social, @muratsomer-eng.bsky.social, @cengizgunay.bsky.social www.oiip.ac.at/publikation/...

A must-read on Erdogan’s coercive capacity and what Turkish armed forces may or may not deliver in case of full-scale crackdown

Join our panel on 29 April at 17:00: Turkey at the Crossroads – Is this the End or the Beginning of Democracy? With @sebnemgumuscu.bsky.social @selvinkorkmaz.bsky.social @muratsomer-eng.bsky.social @cengizgunay.bsky.social @kreiskyforum.bsky.social Register 👉 www.oiip.ac.at/events/shapi...

This is Autumn. She was born without one paw. Gets along just fine with three, but still sometimes uses a prosthetic leg when she wants to blend in. 13/10

Elections have consequences

Elektrik faturasında enerji bedeli, sadece % 19,1. Vergi ve fonlar ise % 10. Geri kalan yüzde 70,9, elektrik dağıtım şirketlerine akıyor. Zamanında fazilet gibi anlatılan özelleştirme tablosu böyle. "Alın terimiz holdinglere akarken" Bugünkü yazı: t24.com.tr/yazarlar/cig...

Once again, I ask what exactly folks have seen over the last three months to make them really believe that the 2026/28 elections will be free, fair, & competitive?

I have never seen anything like this in NYC. 5th Ave covered from 42nd St well to the 20s. Nobody prepared for this volume. Volunteers are holding the traffic on all the side streets. No police in sight. #handsoff

Ekrem Imamoglu ve takiminin tutuklanmasiyla birlikte Turkiye icin beliren yol ayrimini Fayn’in bu haftaki yayini icin konustuk

Turkish tweeps and timeline is migrating to bluesky! Welcome everyone! Hosgeldin Turkiye timeline’i ve eski-twitter ahalisi :)

"Crushing the CHP means crushing whatever is left of democracy in Turkey. More precisely, it means transforming Turkey's elected authoritarian regime into a fully authoritarian one" #AFP With comments from @yunussozen.bsky.social and @sebnemgumuscu.bsky.social

Erdogan government cracks down on independent media in Turkey for airing protests and CHP’s rallies, as lawyers and deputies report horrific rights violations of detained student protestors at courthouses.

Another must-read from the best duo of political scientists on democratic backsliding in Turkey. Congrats to Sebnem & Berk Esen for this timely piece. 🇹🇷👏 And if you’re interested in democracy, follow @jodemocracy.bsky.social! It’s that rarest of things: a relevant & readable scholarly journal! 🔥🤓

We wrote a short piece on Turkey’s protests and how/why we arrived at this moment with Berk Esen for @jodemocracy.bsky.social We also discuss what may come next: www.journalofdemocracy.org/online-exclu...

15 million people voted in today’s primary. That’s one out of four voters in Turkey.

Observing CHP’s presidential primaries in Istanbul, Umraniye, an Erdogan stronghold: Overflowing crowds, people forming long lines waiting for about an hour to vote. Chanting anti-government slogans and vocalising the demand for democracy and justice.

Erdogan’s main rival, Mayor Imamoglu, arrested on corruption charges. Today Imamoglu is likely to win his party’s presidential primary with millions of votes.

Following the arrest of #Istanbul mayor #Imamoglu, you might be interested in our article on the 2024 local elections in #Turkey. Kursat Cinar analyses how the opposition camp appeared to gather momentum and energy. Read the article here 👇 tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

As citizens in Hungary, India, Turkey etc. have learned the hard way, aspiring autocrats do not subscribe to the cliche of the “ivory tower”. They consider universities highly relevant. Universities, like courts and free media organizations, are sources of authority that might rival the leader’s.

I decided to start a #thread 🧵 of stories about legal residents and tourists being (illegally) arrested, detained and/or deported by the Trump regime. I'll only post stories from serious sources, as rumors and conspiracies are really not needed in this authoritarian moment.

Osman Kavala 2 bin 697 gündür hapiste www.diken.com.tr/osman-kavala...

"Academic Self-Censorship Under Trump": Read the analysis by @abuaardvark.bsky.social and me of the latest Middle East Scholar Barometer findings on campus atmosphere and ME policy issues. criticalissues.umd.edu/feature/acad...

Trump is dissolving the constitution before our eyes if we don't stop him

Resources Trump and Musk mustered allow them to capture the GOP and hold a firm grip over it. Democratic backsliding indeed begins within parties…

We strongly condemn today’s arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and around one hundred other politicians, journalists, and members of civil society in Turkey. These arrests are another step toward full-blown dictatorship and represent an attack on the very idea of a political opposition. (1/2)

This morning's police raids targeted 106 suspects but the focus, of course, is on the man who is Turkey's most recognisable politician after Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Where now for Ekrem İmamoğlu, President Erdoğan and Turkey? A thread after a tumultuous 24 hours.

The main opposition opened Sunday’s primaries to all. A smart move.

Directly from the autocrat’s playbook. This is what Erdogan did to silence his critics in Turkey

Doları 39, Euro'yu 42 TL'nin altında tutabilmek için Merkez Bankası döviz satıyor. Döviz.com'un haberine göre bankacılar satışın şimdiden 5 Milyar doları aştığı, 10 milyar dolara ulaşabileceğini söylüyor. haber.doviz.com/doviz-haberl...

Şöyle bir olay vardı: Osman Kavala 2 bin 696 gündür hapiste - Diken www.diken.com.tr/osman-kavala...

1. Cumhurbaşkanlığı talebi ve BTK eliyle yapılan bant daraltma uygulaması keyfidir, hukuka ve Anayasaya aykırıdır. Bunlar hükümetin umurunda bile olmasa, bizler buna itiraz etmeye ve açıklamaya devam edeceğiz 👇 bsky.app/profile/enge...

Erdogan’s main rival, Mayor Imamoglu, detained this morning along with his team in Istanbul. The move comes 4 days before presidential primaries in the opposition party.

Mayor Imamoglu’s college degree is annulled, establishing him ineligible for the presidential race. Erdogan thus sidelines the star player of the Turkish opposition. The decision proves that Turkish elections are neither free nor fair.

Do you think you’re safe because you’re a US citizen? What guarantees your citizenship rights? The Constitution, the rule of law, & the institutions that protect them. If the regime breaks that rule of law by deporting non-citizens without trial or due process, defying court order, how safe are you?

BREAKING: The head of the $42 billion federal BEAD program that aims to bring broadband internet to rural and unserved areas has left the Commerce Dept. He sent a departing email warning of "deeply negative outcomes" for people if the Trump admin shifts $$ from fiber internet to Musk's Starlink:

📰Sunday extras: "Islamic Nationalism and the Future of Turkish Democracy" with @whitejenny.bsky.social, @sebnemgumuscu.bsky.social, @hannahluci.bsky.social and @jdryan08.bsky.social via @asianaffairs.bsky.social. [1/5]

Great conversation earlier this week with @whitejenny.bsky.social, @sebnemgumuscu.bsky.social and Hannah Lucinda Smith about the trajectory of Islam, Nationalism, and Democracy in Turkey. Check it out if you missed it! youtu.be/PEbkeVhNNgA?...