Turkey: Gezi Spirit Not Easily Subdued

by Dorian Jones A year after challenging Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an’s iron grip on power, Turkey’s anti-government Gezi-Park protest movement continues to inspires some, and worry others. The mass rallies started on May 31, 2013, after police forcefully… Continue Reading

Erdogan’s Strange Approach to the Soma Mine Disaster

by Derek Davison An explosion at a coal mine in Turkey on May 13 has generated an outpouring of public anger and concern over the Turkish government’s mine safety record. The response of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his… Continue Reading

Meet the New Boss: The Resurgence of Mideast Authoritarianism

by Derek Davison Over the next few months, citizens in several Middle Eastern countries will take to the polls in a series of elections that will have a good deal to say about the direction the region’s politics will take.… Continue Reading

Turkey’s Election Results Seem to Validate Erdogan’s Authoritarianism

by Derek Davison After a campaign involving a corruption investigation and nation-wide bans on social media, and an election day marred by deadly violence, Sunday’s municipal elections in Turkey resulted in what appears to have been a clear victory for… Continue Reading

Turbulent Middle East Poses Challenges for U.S. Policy

by Jim Lobe via IPS News New and unexpected strains in Washington’s ties with two of its closest Middle Eastern allies — Saudi Arabia and Turkey — have underlined the difficult challenges the administration of President Barack Obama faces in… Continue Reading