Publications

This policy brief speculates on the motives and outcomes of possible negotiations between the Turkish government and the Kurdistan Workers' Party.

This policy brief assesses the current state of democracy in Turkey.

This policy brief argues that argues that Turkey's democracy is at risk.

This policy brief outlines the recent history of Turkey's role in the Middle East.

This policy brief details the changing relationship of Turkey and Syria over the last decade.

This policy brief examines the debate over the place of religion in Turkish public schools.

This policy brief examines the recent decision of the French Constitutional Court to invalidate legislation that would have criminalized denying that the Armenians experienced genocide in 1915.

This policy brief examines how the ruling AKP is using religion, or not, in matters of state.

This policy brief examines friction between Turkey and France regarding events in 1915.

Turkey’s unresolved problem with the state’s Kurds undermines its credibility as a model for other regional societies. Moreover it unsettles Turkey’s relations with its neighbors, notably Syria, Iraq, and Iran....

This policy brief examines Turkey's economic and political interests in the Mediterranean region....

This policy brief argues that Turkish-Israeli relations are deteriorating to a level from which it may be difficult to improve them in the foreseeable future....

This policy brief explains that the Turkish constitution-making process will provide an opportunity to see if the government party will lead an effort to establish a system characterized by extensive civil liberties for the citizens and a system of government characterized by checks and balances....

This policy brief examines the implications of an opposition “oath boycott” in Turkey.

This policy brief explains the importance of Turkey's June 12 parliamentary elections.

This policy brief examines Turkey's evolving reaction to events in the Middle East.

This policy brief outlines the implications of Syrian unrest on neighboring Turkey.

This policy brief sheds light on the particulars of Turkey's upcoming elections in terms of the electoral system, candidate designation, and the criteria used by political parties to determine their candidates.

This policy brief explores the role of Turkey in changes in Egypt and the Middle East.

This brief examines how the once relatively close relations between Turkey and Israel have crumbled in recent years and what that means for the region.

This policy brief examines the results and implications of the recently completed Republican People’s Party leadership convention in Turkey.

This policy brief discusses the resumption of the quiet negotiation process between Greece and Turkey regarding Cyprus.

Electoral failure, which constitutes a major opportunity for parties to renew their leaders in other democratic systems, does not serve the same function in Turkish politics.

This policy brief examines the recent findings on Turkey in the Transatlantic Trends survey, which suggest that the attitudes of Turks deviate significantly from those of citizens of the United States and European Union.

Turkey's Sept. 12 referendum on proposed constitutional amendments creates yet another occasion for reinforcing the deep cleavages in Turkish politics.

In recent years Turkey has made foreign policy choices that have been at odds with the preferences of some of its major partners, such as the United States, the EU, and Israel, and it has begun to pursue a more activist and proactive foreign policy atypical from earlier times.

Based on the traditional framework of Turkish foreign policy, one would have expected it to encourage Iran to comply with the requirements of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), while trying to persuade the United States and other members of the UN Security Council that diplomatic means should be given continued priority.

The Republican People's Party of Turkey, the major opposition, has had an unexpected change of leadership triggered by the appearance of compromising pictures of the party's leader Deniz Baykal on the internet. The resignation of Baykal has opened the way for the election of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as its new leader. The party's rank and file hope that their new leader will turn around the electoral fortunes of the party, but success is not assured.

Turkey's government and opposition are embroiled in a deep conflict over proposed changes to the Turkish constitution. The two major opposition parties have made it clear that they will not be party to the efforts of the governing party to amend the constitution in unacceptable ways. The governing party will fight bitterly to the end to get what it wants. The Turkish voters will have to brace themselves for a no holds barred battle, which is likely to be followed by a tension-ridden referendum. Peace and tranquility will not be the words to characterize Turkish politics in the months to come.

A quarrel has erupted within the Turkish judiciary over an investigation into Operation Sledgehammer- an alleged plot by some elements in the military to take over the government. Despite complaints of improprieties committed in the process of arresting people and searching homes, the government has decided to back the investigation.