How not to dethrone an authoritarian leader: The case of Turkey’s Erdoğan
Public apathy and inaction to Erdoğan's authoritarian agenda play a big role in sustaining his hold on power
Gezi Park
How Turkey’s opposition media empowers Erdoğan
Complicity in perpetuating authoritarian rule has many faces. Undemocratic governance is propped up by politicians and big businesses as well as a complacent media ecosystem and...
Op-eds
Turkey’s Erdoğan Silences Critics with “FETO” Terrorist Label
For 10 years, the Gulen movement has been synonymous with terrorism
Op-eds
Erdogan is Here to Stay
The Turkish president has adopted a transactional policy with the West. Washington should respond in kind.
Op-eds
Turkey Defies Rule of Law With Life Sentence for Rights Activist
Turkey’s highest appeals court last week upheld a life-long prison sentence for human rights activist and philanthropist Osman Kavala. The court’s decision violates several binding rulings by the European...
Policy Briefs
What If Erdogan Wins Next Month’s Turkish Elections?
Should Erdogan be re-elected next month, many will inevitably ask “whose fault is this” and “what comes next?”
Op-eds
Turkey’s Opposition Picks Candidate to Challenge Erdogan
Latest Developments An alliance of six parties joined together on Monday to nominate the leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Kemal Kilicdaroglu, as its candidate for president in the May 14...
Flash Briefs
It’s Time to End CNN’s License for CNN Turk’s Hate Content
Turkish media recently reported that CNN International is sending a team to Turkey to “look into its Turkish branch’s broadcasting policy,” which has been “under fire for its...
Op-eds
Give Osman Kavala the Nobel Peace Prize
Kavala is a philanthropist who, for decades, has stood up to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and to authoritarians of every stripe inside Turkey.
Op-eds
Erdogan’s Power Plays Turn to Profit Margins
Erdogan’s Power Plays Turn to Profit Margins
Op-eds
Erdogan’s Anti-Semitism Will Sink Turkey’s Economy
The Turkish president’s racist conspiracy theories are a threat to economic stability.
Op-eds
The Brunson farce
Turkey’s indictment against Pastor Andrew Brunson reveals why charges against him shouldn’t hold up in any legitimate court.
Op-eds
Behind the Veneer of Cross-Party Unity, Erdogan Cements Power
All three of Turkey’s main opposition parties opposed the coup attempt on July 15, and the government has taken pains to show its gratitude. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has...
Policy Briefs
Turkey’s Strongman Will Exploit The Failed Coup
Turkey may have thwarted a military coup d’etat on Friday night, but the result will almost certainly be the precipitous decline of Turkey’s democracy...
Op-eds
Turkey Risks Relapse into ’90s Violence
A specter is haunting Turkey. Suicide bombers, assassins and an alphabet soup of terrorist organizations seem to have brought back the carnage of the 1990s. The rapid ...
Op-eds
Turkey Thwarts Erdoğan
The Turkish general elections ended with the most unlikely outcome. Twenty political parties and 165 independent candidates competed for 550 seats in 85 electoral districts. The ruling Justice an...
Op-eds
A Resurgent Terrorist Threat in Turkey
Turkey has long fought Kurdish insurgents within its borders, and the country now faces a severe jihadist threat in part due to Ankara’s reckless policy of allowing jihadists to exploit its...
Op-eds
Cool Istanbul
Demet Muftuoglu-Eseli is standing perilously close to the fire. The Turkish fashion mogul turned gallerist is hosting a gala dinner for “Istancool,” the annual arts and cultur...
Op-eds
Turkey’s Double Standards On Protests
Anti-government demonstrators gathered at Istanbul’s Taksim Square on Saturday, May 31 on the first anniversary of last year’s Gezi Park protests. As expected, the government responde...
Policy Briefs
Turkey’s AKP Wins Local Elections, But Challenges Remain
Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) emerged the victor from Sunday's municipal elections. With over 45% of the overall votes t...