There are some real lessons here about how an illiberal government used their university system as a cudgel against their political opponents.

Ankara overlooks the trust deficit that the Trump administration creates in Europe.

Definitely worth reading 👇

“The top 1% took a larger piece of the pie than at any point in modern Turkish economic history — during the same years that most Turks watched their real wages collapse, their savings evaporate and their cost of living spiral to 85% annual inflation” substack.com/home/post/p-...

SEDE's vote in favour of not including Turkey from the defence components of the 2028–2034 Horizon Europe research programme underlines continuity in the EU's strategic outlook vis-a-vis defence and security cooperation with Turkey.

"Macron vowed that France would stand by Greece if it ever came under attack from its neighbour and long-time regional rival, Turkey." Bear in mind that all three of these countries are NATO members. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

For anyone working with scholars from the MENA region, I wanted to share a community resource. For 156 weeks, with the help of co-hosts from Turkey, Syria, and Iran, I've run a MENA writing solidarity group across time zones. Here's the info: www.liselhintz.com/mena-solidar.... Please share!

Masa esasen bir tahakküm ve sadakat testidir. İşlevselliği tam olarak "devrilme-sağlam durma" belirsizliğinden kaynaklanmaktadır.

A group of miners are on the 5th day of their hunger strike. They were not paid for months. t24.com.tr/gundem/aclik...

I think Barrack's comments about "this part of the world" only understanding power and autocracies being the most successful form of governance were worse than condescending; I think they reflected admiration and approval. These people clearly want the same for the US & rest of the democratic world.

The UK and Turkey have signed a Strategic Partnership Framework today. Noteworthy in the joint statement is the emphasis that the Framework would strengthen cooperation btw the two countries "by increasing cooperation and coordination within NATO, including strengthening the European pillar."

Europe is in a profound state of crisis. In this film, Anu Bradford and I assembled a group of the continent’s leading thinkers to assess the threats: their warnings are stark, but the remedy is within reach www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The UK and Turkey have signed a Strategic Partnership Framework today. Noteworthy in the joint statement is the emphasis that the Framework would strengthen cooperation btw the two countries "by increasing cooperation and coordination within NATO, including strengthening the European pillar."

I am not entirely sure whether it is equally valid when one looks beyond the horizon. And it is this last point that poses the greatest challenge to relations and their sustainability.

I think the discussion about the role of imperatives and interdependence in EU-Turkey relations misses an important dimension: time. The argument of necessity concerns the short-term.

The era of democracy promotion is officially over, and we now live in, at best, a world of indifference, and at worst, in one of autocracy promotion. Tom Barrack's recent remarks celebrating strong men and monarchies in the Middle East tilt towards the latter.

Truly saying the quiet part out loud. But I still believe that throwing basic norms out is an unconditional loss for all of us.

At some point, there was a Turkish TV series, Gonul Dagi, promoting young people's active involvement in the defence industry. Mark Rutte's speech at the Turkish defence company Aselsan reminded me of that.

I think the discussion about the role of imperatives and interdependence in EU-Turkey relations misses an important dimension: time. The argument of necessity concerns the short-term.

The era of democracy promotion is officially over, and we now live in, at best, a world of indifference, and at worst, in one of autocracy promotion. Tom Barrack's recent remarks celebrating strong men and monarchies in the Middle East tilt towards the latter.

At some point, there was a Turkish TV series, Gonul Dagi, promoting young people's active involvement in the defence industry. Mark Rutte's speech at the Turkish defence company Aselsan reminded me of that.

Whether it is an ambassador who believes that strong men are the best fit for power in the Middle East, or leaders who criticize strong men for being oppressive, Erdoğan appears to be on the winning side in both cases.

Whether it is an ambassador who believes that strong men are the best fit for power in the Middle East, or leaders who criticize strong men for being oppressive, Erdoğan appears to be on the winning side in both cases.

As the NATO summit approaches and articles on Turkey's defence cooperation with European countries surge, I would like to draw attention to our project from last year on Turkey and European security.👇 www.cats-network.eu/topics/the-r...

This and further findings can be read here in the concluding policy paper of the project: www.cats-network.eu/publication/...

The project involves country reports that explore perceptions about TR in a changing security environment. Even though most European countries are interested in cooperating with Ankara, given the geopolitical imperatives, bilateral engagement currently takes precedence over EU-level cooperation.

As the NATO summit approaches and articles on Turkey's defence cooperation with European countries surge, I would like to draw attention to our project from last year on Turkey and European security.👇 www.cats-network.eu/topics/the-r...

The issue with the rhetorical tension btw Turkey&IIsrael is not that it will lead to an imminent military conflict. The real problem is that this tension increases the risk of a “self-fulfilling prophecy.” That is, the rhetoric&the seemingly competing group dynamics are shaping threat perceptions.

I discussed this here: www.su.se/english/divi... And here: youtube.com/watch?si=Hkc_Sl-xIobETn8G&v=UyzXbcA4cAo&feature=youtu.be

This. And, well, there's a lot of ways that the two can make each other - and their neighbors - more miserable short of an actual shooting war.

The issue with the rhetorical tension btw Turkey&IIsrael is not that it will lead to an imminent military conflict. The real problem is that this tension increases the risk of a “self-fulfilling prophecy.” That is, the rhetoric&the seemingly competing group dynamics are shaping threat perceptions.

Visibility is not influence.

It's a day that ends in "y" so we are once again doing something dramatic and grandiose but what exactly it is that we are doing and why are we doing it no one has a clue.

After a bunch of autocrats sucked up to Trump at the big dumb ceremony nobody except Morocco and UAE have actually delivered promised money for Gaza via Trump’s corrupt and stupid Board of Peace. Meanwhile Gaza continues to suffer mostly unnoticed. www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_ent...

Flawed peace, which has persisted for the past 80 years, will likely continue to unravel. However, the Iran War and the recent failed negotiations have shaken the belief that war is the most effective path to peace. Unchecked power, cloaked in arrogance, leads not to peace but to chaos.

Netanyahu appears determined to create a "rally round the flag" effect for Erdoğan. The best "yerli ve milli" opposition outside the borders of Turkey that one can wish for.

"İBB davasında, henüz iddia edilen suçlar hakkında hüküm verilmeden ağır bir ‘cezalandırma yöntemi’ uygulanıyor. Aslında sadece İBB davasında da değil. Uyuşturucudan yasa dışı bahise kadar son yıllarda yapılan operasyonların tamamında aynı durum geçerli: Mal varlığına el koyma! [..]

Netanyahu appears determined to create a "rally round the flag" effect for Erdoğan. The best "yerli ve milli" opposition outside the borders of Turkey that one can wish for.

Flawed peace, which has persisted for the past 80 years, will likely continue to unravel. However, the Iran War and the recent failed negotiations have shaken the belief that war is the most effective path to peace. Unchecked power, cloaked in arrogance, leads not to peace but to chaos.

"Ortada net tanımlanmış bir suçlama bile yokken bir babanın kızından ayrı kalmasını kabullenmek için hangi yüksek amaca sahip olmak gerek? Hakkında daha iddianame bile yazılmadan içerde bulunanlar için “Neden?” diye sormamak için o kutsal “siyasi maslahat” gerekçeleri daha ne kadar işe yarar?"

Turkey-Israel competition seems to have become a domestic issue in the US, underlining tensions and frictions within the Trump Administration.

A new piece on the strange psychology of writing about your own country for foreigners. kulturkampftr.substack.com/p/a-serious-...

Turkey-Israel competition seems to have become a domestic issue in the US, underlining tensions and frictions within the Trump Administration.

Clearly, one should not post while in the train. The last sentence should obviously read as: "At the same time, Ankara does want an active role in the restructuring of European security."

Navigating the the political West's increasing fragmentation is a major challenge for Turkey. It needs good relations with Trump administration, among others, for its Syria policy&to balance Israel out. At the same time, Ankara doesn't want an active role in the restructuring of European security.

When Trump says, "We'll bring them back to the Stone Age," he's really saying he'll bring the US back to the Stone Age, because destroying a society, as opposed to destroying its ability and will to fight, is no longer a legitimate goal of warfare. It's also a mischaracterization of the Stone Age.

our government helping to lead the normalization of bombing schools and hospitals without consequence over the past 3 years has made it harder to build opposition to such atrocities today, regardless of intent or cause.

At this stage it might be preferable to rip the band-aid off in one go rather than all this continuous pulling at the edges. At least it would clarify the situation and politicians/public could finally face up to reality and make the difficult decisions needed to protect ourselves.

It is putting self-interests over allied interests; it is blackmailing and bullying allies that rupture the transatlantic alliance. Has already been happening, with the latest Trump tantrum takes yet another leap.

SWP gibt's jetzt auch bei Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xin_...