With municipal elections on the horizon, Turks are likely to note that imprisoning the opposition hasn’t exactly raised living standards.
Turkey’s Election: A Plague Upon the House of Erdogan
Most of Turkey’s recent tribulations are the result of President Erdogan’s determination to reverse the outcome of last June’s election that saw his party lose control of the parliament.
Erdogan’s Iron Fist
The over three million participating protesters represent a wide spectrum of ideologies, walks of life, and religious sects.
Turkey Haunted by Hubris
Two years ago, Turkey was on its way to being a player in Central Asia, a major power broker in the Middle East, and a driving force in international politics. Now it’s at war with one of its neighbors, at odds with regional powers, and plagued by internal insurgency. What happened?
Syria’s Sectarian Echoes in Turkey
Turkey has become one of Bashar Al-Assad’s main enemies since Erdogan turned on his old friend in response to the Syrian regime’s brutal crackdown on the opposition. But the sectarian character of Syria’s civil war has created tensions within Turkey that complicate the triangular relationship among Ankara, Damascus, and the armed Syrian opposition.
How We Can Replace Defense Jobs
As the post-9-11 wars finally begin to end, we can shrink the Pentagon budget. Here is a three-part strategy for replacing the jobs currently dependent on military production we don’t need.
Arab Spring, Turkish Harvest
After consolidating its domestic political position with an impressive third straight victory in the 2011 parliamentary elections, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) is poised to cement Turkey’s status as the prime indigenous power in the Middle East. As mass protests rock most of the region, including Israel, Turkey is increasingly holding itself up as an example of economic dynamism and democratic stability.
Assad-Erdogan Bromance on the Rocks?
Syrian President Assad’s brutality, which has driven refugees into Turkey, has ruined his relationship with Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan.