Opinions - Turkey

Turkey Is In The Critical Junction: Modernize Customs Union With Rule of Law or Else

Turkey Is In The Critical Junction: Modernize Customs Union With Rule of Law or Else

by Mehmet Demirbaş, published on 19 April 2024
On April 17, 2024, the Dutch parliament made a significant decision concerning Turkey. It urged the Dutch government to condition negotiations aimed at modernizing the customs union agreement between Turkey and the European Union. This resolution was prompted by Turkey's failure to adhere to the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights regarding Osman Kavala, Selahattin Demirtaş and others.
Avrupa Birliği’nin Göç ve İlticaya Dair Yürürlüğe Girecek Yeni Paktı

Avrupa Birliği’nin Göç ve İlticaya Dair Yürürlüğe Girecek Yeni Paktı

by Mehmet Bozkaya, published on 8 April 2024
Uluslararası Göç Örgütü verilerine göre 2014’ten bu yana Avrupa’ya ulaşmaya çabalarken yaşamını yitiren veya kaybolanların sayısı 29 bini geçmiş bulunuyor. Bu kayıpların ve Avrupa Birliği (AB)’nin 2015 yılında karşılaştığı göçmen krizinin bir neticesi olarak, AB’nin yeni iltica ve göç reformu düzenlemesi 2020 Eylül’de önerildi. Yasa paketinin Haziran 2024’te yapılacak AB Parlamento seçimlerinden evvel, Nisan 2024’te kabul edilmesi öngörülmektedir.
Erdogan at Crossroads Once More

Erdogan at Crossroads Once More

Erdogan at Crossroads Once More Turkey's local elections on March 31st surprisingly saved Turkey's opposition from obsolescence and restored its credibility, severely damaged after last year's disappointing presidential elections. For the first time in two decades, the AKP found itself in the second position in an election. Moreover, the CHP's re-elected mayor of Istanbul, Imamoğlu, proved his political skills as a charismatic leader capable of challenging President Erdoğan. Meanwhile, the AKP and its Islamist and nationalist allies have clearly lost votes, signaling discontent among Erdoğan's base. This new reality of Turkish politics leaves Erdoğan with two alternative paths: one that aims to save the economy and thus remove one of the root causes of discontent, or a more authoritarian one that seeks to curb dissent through more oppression. Both paths have their own risks and opportunities for Erdoğan.
Ecevit’s Last Words: Turkey’s Strategic Autonomy

Ecevit’s Last Words: Turkey’s Strategic Autonomy

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 25 March 2024
Ecevit’s memories is useful to understand contemporary CHP’s support for Erdogan’s military operations in Syria and Iraq or anti-American stance. It shows that strategic autonomy in foreign policy, military expansionism, and transactionalism in Turkish-American relations have an appeal across ideologies in Turkey’s political landscape.
Turkey is about to get the consent of the Iraqi Government for a military operation

Turkey is about to get the consent of the Iraqi Government for a military operation

by Enes Esen, published on 17 March 2024
Turkey is preparing to launch another incursion into northern Iraq, aiming to establish a 30-40 km deep buffer zone to counter the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). To rally support for its operation, Turkish officials have engaged in shuttle diplomacy with local stakeholders in Iraq. However, it is essential to recognize that while the use of force may provide short-term security solutions, addressing the socio-economic root causes of the conflict is crucial for sustainable peace. Without addressing these underlying issues, complications are likely to arise in the future.
Political Symbols and Decoding Turkey’s S-400 Decision

Political Symbols and Decoding Turkey’s S-400 Decision

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 14 March 2024
What does explain this politically, economically, and strategically costly decision that has not brought any added value to Turkey’s military power or defense? Lisel Hintz and David E. Banks argues that S-400s, thanks to the government propaganda, have turned into a political symbol of defiance against the U.S. and strategic autonomy so much that President Erdogan could not retract his S-400 decision. Although Hintz and Banks’ article provides a strong theoretical background to understand Ankara’s S-400 decision, the issue still provides opportunities for new studies.

Reports - Turkey

UNVEILING THE BRUTAL REALITY: SYSTEMATIC TORTURE OF FORMER DIPLOMATS

UNVEILING THE BRUTAL REALITY: SYSTEMATIC TORTURE OF FORMER DIPLOMATS

by instituDE, published on May 2024
This report offers an update to the United Nations Committee against Torture (the Committee) regarding the obstacles to implementing the Convention against Torture (the Convention) in Turkey. As a coalition formed by a collective of former Turkish diplomats, our focus is on the systematic torture faced by former diplomats detained at Ankara Police Headquarters. We delve into the Turkish context and present insights from our organization.
SUCCESSION: THE QUESTION OF POWER TRANSITION IN ERDOGAN’S TURKEY

SUCCESSION: THE QUESTION OF POWER TRANSITION IN ERDOGAN’S TURKEY

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 6 December 2023
His electoral victory in May 2023 gave President Erdoğan five more years to further consolidate his power, eviscerate institutions, fill the bureaucracy with yes-men and expand his corruption network. This, of course, raises questions about the Turkish political system’s chances of recovery, the prospects for democratization after Erdogan and the regime’s tolerance for his demise.
PERSECUTORY CONFISCATION AMOUNTING TO CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY: CASE OF THE GÜLEN GROUP

PERSECUTORY CONFISCATION AMOUNTING TO CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY: CASE OF THE GÜLEN GROUP

by Yasir Gökçe, Hakan Kaplankaya, Harun Reşit Halisoğlu and Mehmet Bozkaya, published on 6 November 2023
This report aims to reveal and analyze the criminal acts and/or omissions of the Turkish authorities against individuals alleged to be affiliated with, connected to, or members of the Gülen Group in the context of violations of the right to property as crimes against humanity.
EURASIANISTS IN TURKEY AND THEIR MEDIA ON THE WAR IN UKRAINE

EURASIANISTS IN TURKEY AND THEIR MEDIA ON THE WAR IN UKRAINE

by Enes Esen, Servet Akman, Ahmet Kalafat and Bahadır Gülle, published on 27 February 2023
Most of the Russian propaganda in Turkey is not overtly conducted by Russian state-affiliated media outlets. Eurasianists in Turkey carry out the Kremlin’s bidding to influence Turkish public opinion in favor of Russian war efforts. They blame the West, specifically NATO and the US, for instigating the war in Ukraine and causing regional instability. They also attack Turkey's political opposition for their milder views on NATO and the US and recommend that the Turkish government prioritize its relations with Russia.
MUHALEFET PARTİLERİNİN KHK SORUNUNA YAKLAŞIMI: ADİL ÇÖZÜM İÇİN YOL HARİTASI

MUHALEFET PARTİLERİNİN KHK SORUNUNA YAKLAŞIMI: ADİL ÇÖZÜM İÇİN YOL HARİTASI

by instituDE, published on 20 June 2022
Türkiye’nin KHK sorununa muhalefet partilerinin yaklaşımlarının ne düzeyde yeterli olduğu sorgulamasından yola çıkarak hazırlanan bu rapor, muhalefet partileri başta olmak üzere bu sorunun üzerine gitme vaadinde bulunan her türlü oluşuma analitik ve hukuksal bir çerçeve sunmayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu bağlamda rapor KHK mağdurlarını, maruz kaldıkları idari ve/ veya adli işlemleri gözönünde bulundurarak kategorize etmekte ve her bir kategoriyi kendi şartları çerçevesinde irdeleyerek çözüm önerileri sunmaktadır.
A VIOLAÇÃO NOS DIREITOS HUMANOS NA TURQUIA ESTÁ A SUBIR ATÉ AO NÍVEL DOS CRIMES CONTRA A HUMANIDADE

A VIOLAÇÃO NOS DIREITOS HUMANOS NA TURQUIA ESTÁ A SUBIR ATÉ AO NÍVEL DOS CRIMES CONTRA A HUMANIDADE

by instituDE, published on 13 August 2021
O presente relatório tem por objetivo suscitar e analisar os atos escandalosos e/ou omissões das autoridades turcas contra indivíduos - a quem alegam estar afiliados, ligados ou membros do Grupo Gülen - no âmbito da competência legal do crime contra a humanidade.

Videos - Turkey

Hakan Fidan'ın Irak Ziyareti

August 26, 2023
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 26 August 2023
Dışı İçi Bir'de bu hafta Haşim Tekineş, Hakan Fidan'ın Irak'a gerçekleştirdiği kapsamlı ziyareti çeşitli yönleriyle ele aldı

Ankara Dümeni Tekrar Batı'ya mı Çeviriyor?

August 18, 2023
by Ömer Güler and Haşim Tekineş, published on 18 July 2023
DışıİçiBir'in yeni bölümünde Ömer Güler ve Haşim Tekineş Batı ile Türkiye arasında yeni bir yakınlaşma olup olmadığını irdelediler. Bu bağlamda mevcut Türk hükümetindeki bakan ve diğer üst yöneticilerin profillerini, İsveç'in NATO'ya katılmasına ilişkin itirazın geri çekilmesini, Ukrayna savaşı çerçevesinde Türkiye'nin takındığı olumlu tutumları ve Batı'ya yakınlaşmanın anlamını ele aldılar.

E-devlette Veri Sızıntıları, Rusya'nın Dezenformasyon Operasyonları

June 19, 2023
by Yasir Gökçe, published on 19 June 2023
HukukGünlüğü'nde instituDE Direktörü ve bilgi güvenliği uzmanı Dr. Yasir Gökçe yaşanan güncel siber güvenlik olaylarını tüm boyutlarıyla anlattı.