Turkey after the Heated Municipal Elections

by Mustafa Gurbuz The outcome of Turkey’s local elections has surprised many analysts and frustrated the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which had dominated the Turkish media and benefited from massive state resources for its campaign. President Recep Tayyip… Continue Reading

Interview: Erdogan, the Referendum, and Turkey’s Future

by Derek Davison On April 16, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and (most of) his Justice and Development Party (AKP) won a narrow victory, with a 51.4 percent majority, in a national referendum on changing Turkey’s constitution. That result was… Continue Reading

Erdogan Gets His Campaign Message

by Derek Davison Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dominated Turkish politics almost since the day he, along with Abdullah Gul, Bulent Arinc, and others, founded the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2001. AKP won a huge victory in Turkey’s 2002… Continue Reading

Turkey’s State of Emergency and the March to One-Man Rule

by Robert Olson Turkey declared a “State of Emergency” (OHAL) on July 20, five days after the failed coup. It is to last for three months but can be extended at four-month intervals indefinitely if parliament agrees., Since it became… Continue Reading

Conflict between Kurds and Syrian Refugees in Turkey?

by Robert Olson An estimated 2.5 million Syrian refugees live in Turkey. They are scattered all over Turkey including Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Antalya, and along the southern coast. There are also 600,000-700,000 in refugee camps. Increasingly, these refugees from Syria… Continue Reading