Turkey

Policy Analysis on Turkey

The New Sultan: Erdogan and the Crisis of Modern Turkey

In a world of rising tensions between Russia and the United States, the Middle East and Europe, Sunnis and Shiites, Islamism and liberalism, Turkey is at the epicenter. And at the heart of Turkey is its right-wing populist president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Since 2002, Erdogan has consolidated his hold on

Apr 24, 2017

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Soner Cagaptay

Video

Brief Analysis

Turkey's 'New Sultan'

Prospects for Future U.S. and Regional Policy

Read a summary or watch video of an in-depth conversation regarding Turkey's recent referendum, which has further consolidated Erdogan's hold on power but also signaled deep internal divisions.

Apr 21, 2017

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Soner Cagaptay
Gonul Tol
Amberin Zaman

Articles & Testimony

Turkey in Crisis

Without an organized opposition, Erdogan's expanded powers may end Turkish democracy.

Apr 18, 2017

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Soner Cagaptay

Articles & Testimony

Turkey's Ties to the West Are in Deep Trouble

As Europe and the United States await the fallout from the April 16 referendum to gauge the future of an important partner, they must also recognize some sad realities about the state of Turkish politics and society.

Apr 14, 2017

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Soner Cagaptay

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Assad's Chemical Attack Signals an Imminent Idlib Offensive

The regime's latest atrocity was spurred by clear military motivations, and the situation will likely worsen as the army begins a wider ground campaign against rebel strongholds in Idlib province.

Apr 14, 2017

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Fabrice Balanche

Articles & Testimony

The Permanent State of Crisis in Turkey

Erdogan has created a deeply divided society that may never be able to resolve its differences.

Apr 12, 2017

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Soner Cagaptay

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Rojava Seeks to Break Out in Syria

Despite their desire for greater independence, Syria's Kurds have shown a willingness to broker agreements with the Assad regime in order to secure their near-term economic interests, and they may soon do the same with Iran.

Apr 12, 2017

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Fabrice Balanche

Erdogan Needs Enemies More Than Friends

A Turkey expert discusses how the upcoming constitutional referendum could exacerbate the internal divisions that the longtime leader has deliberately sown over the years.

Apr 7, 2017

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Soner Cagaptay

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech

Articles & Testimony

Erdogan Is Dividing Turkey Against Itself

A demonize-and-polarize strategy has worked for the Turkish president in the past, but it may ultimately tear his country apart.

Mar 31, 2017

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Soner Cagaptay

In-Depth Reports

Defeating Ideologically Inspired Violent Extremism

A Strategy to Build Strong Communities and Protect the U.S. Homeland

Preventing and countering violent extremism is not a soft alternative to counterterrorism, but an essential toolkit to complement law enforcement's ongoing efforts to prevent violence.

Mar 13, 2017

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Matthew Levitt
Aaron Y. Zelin
Katherine Bauer
Jacob Olidort
Rand Beers
Adnan Kifayat
Samantha Ravich
Eric Rosand

Articles & Testimony

Trump Needs Political-Military Plan for ISIS

While ignoring Turkey's concerns and going all in with the Syrian Kurds may seem like the best military option for defeating ISIS, bringing Ankara into the fold for a multilateral campaign is the best way of avoiding bigger problems down the road.

Mar 1, 2017

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James Jeffrey
Soner Cagaptay

Fikra Forum

Turkey: Between Border Conflicts and Regional Expansion

Turkey has come to see the Iraqi city of Mosul as a representation of the geopolitical balance with other states in the region. The area Mosul is not only important for its size, population, and resources, but also for its location. Sitting on the border between Turkey and Syria, it

Feb 28, 2017

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Sadek Ali Hassan

Articles & Testimony

Why Two New Kurdistans Are Better Than One

The rise of the Islamic State brought the Kurds together, but its impending fall now threatens to tear them apart.

Feb 22, 2017

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Bilal Wahab

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

The Campaign to Retake Raqqa Is Accelerating

Kurdish-led forces are in good position for a final assault on the Islamic State's Syrian stronghold, and other actors seem ready to either support them or stand aside and benefit from their faster progress on the battlefield.

Feb 9, 2017

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Fabrice Balanche

Articles & Testimony

The Plan to Defeat ISIS: Key Decisions and Considerations

Washington should pursue a 'day after' scenario that keeps the United States in the region, maintains its new (YPG) and old (Turkish and Iraqi) relationships, pushes back Iranian ambitions, and 'manages' an inevitable Russian presence.

Feb 7, 2017

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James Jeffrey

Brief Analysis

Iran's Warming Relations with the PKK Could Destabilize the KRG

Their emerging confluence of interests will only exacerbate the internal problems caused by factionalism and failed governance in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Feb 6, 2017

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Bilal Wahab

Articles & Testimony

Is Erdogan a Russian Ally or Putin's Puppet?

The Turkish-Russian relationship is an unequal one, and Erdogan may not realize the extent of Putin's capacity for manipulating and abandoning temporary allies.

Jan 27, 2017

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Anna Borshchevskaya

Brief Analysis

Will Astana Displace Geneva in the Syrian Peace Process?

The circumstances of the Russian-sponsored peace conference raise several concerns, but failure to participate could signal acquiescence to Moscow's plans in Syria and further U.S. withdrawal from the Middle East.

Jan 20, 2017

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Fabrice Balanche

Brief Analysis

Trump's First Foreign Policy Win Could Be in Syria

The incoming Trump team has a quick shot at averting worse disasters in Syria, with its new Russian gambit.

Jan 19, 2017

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David Pollock

In-Depth Reports

U.S. Policy on Turkey

The Trump administration should revamp policy toward Turkey to emphasize a transactional approach to critical bilateral issues, counsels two leading experts on U.S.-Turkish relations. In the first in a series of Washington Institute presidential transition papers addressing key policy challenges across the Middle East, former U.S. ambassador to Ankara James

Jan 11, 2017

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James Jeffrey
Soner Cagaptay

Supported by the

Turkish Research Program

Since its inception in 1995, The Washington Institute's Turkish Research Program has established itself as the most influential center in Washington for research and information on Turkey -- a predominantly Muslim, secular, and democratic U.S. ally.

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Soner Cagaptay

Soner Cagaptay is the Beyer Family Senior Fellow and director of the Turkish Research Program at The Washington Institute.

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