Kurds, Turkey, and Syria
by Robert Olson In this piece I want to address further the topic of the situation of the Kurds as embedded in the evolving geopolitics of the Middle East, especially Turkey.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Geopolitics and Turkish Contemporary Politics
by Robert Olson Turkey‘s contemporary politics are full of Sturm und Drang and it is difficult to know when the current turmoil will subside or the sides will reach some kind of political agreement.
Implications of Istanbul Bombing for Turkey, Erdogan
by Derek Davison Last week’s suicide bombing in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet district was the fourth bombing on Turkish soil since last June linked to the Islamic State (ISIS or IS). However, unlike the three previous bombings, this attack was not directed… Continue Reading
The Real Reason Why Saudi Arabia Executed Sheikh Nimr
by Shireen Hunter Saudi Arabia finally executed the elderly Shia cleric, Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, even though many Muslim and other religious leaders as well as the United Nations and a number of political leaders had urged—at least privately—Saudi Arabia… Continue Reading
The Russia-Turkey Spat: The Big Picture
by Igor Torbakov The past, in particular a shared desire to right perceived historical wrongs, is making it more difficult for Turkey and Russia to smooth over their present differences.