Turkey

Policy Analysis on Turkey

The Economic Dimension of Peace in Turkey

March 31, 2016 President Erdogan’s approach to securing the loyalties of Turkey’s Kurdish populace has taken many forms: granting Kurds stronger civil rights, extending the olive branch to the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) insurgency, and permitting the first pro-Kurdish party to gain Parliament seats in a country where political organizations

Mar 31, 2016

◆

Ben Sollenberger

Video

Brief Analysis

The Syrian Kurds: Whose Ally?

Read a summary or watch video of this energetic debate on how Washington should balance vitally important relationships with Turkey and the Syrian Kurds in the fight against the Islamic State.

Mar 29, 2016

◆

Andrew J. Tabler
Soner Cagaptay
David Pollock
James Jeffrey

Articles & Testimony

Four Things to Watch During Turkish President Erdogan's Visit to Washington

Erdogan's interactions with President Obama could shed light on long-gestating proposals for retaking ISIS-held areas in northern Syria, as well as the status of recent bilateral tensions and the future of Turkish policy toward the Kurds.

Mar 29, 2016

◆

Soner Cagaptay

Articles & Testimony

Is Turkey Coming in from the Cold in Europe?

Ankara may have scaled back its grand ambitions in the Middle East, but is the EU ready to hold its nose in dealing with Erdogan's authoritarian administration?

Mar 28, 2016

◆

Soner Cagaptay

Articles & Testimony

The War of All Against Turkey

Unless Erdogan changes his stripes and becomes a unifying politician amid the current terror tsunami, he may go down in history as the leader who broke Turkey while trying to become a king.

Mar 21, 2016

◆

Soner Cagaptay

Articles & Testimony

Beyond Nationalism: Kurdistan as a Catalyst for a New Middle East

Caught at the geographic convergence of four key states and their various political and military conflicts, Kurdistan may gradually spread a new paradigm focused on sharing the space instead of attempting to carve untenable dominions out of it.

Feb 25, 2016

◆

Hassan Mneimneh

Articles & Testimony

Promoting Strong and Inclusive Institutions in the Middle East

The main lesson imparted by the Arab Spring at the five year mark is that toppling dictators does not clear a straight path to democracy. Without establishing strong and inclusive institutions to make democratization sustainable following regime change, civil wars have broken out in Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen, while

Feb 25, 2016

◆

Maurizio Geri

Brief Analysis

IS and Russia Could Exploit Turkey's Political Divisions

Unfortunate civil unrest could emerge if the jihadist group continues targeting anti-government Turks and Moscow keeps its sights set on Erdogan and his party.

Feb 22, 2016

◆

Soner Cagaptay

Brief Analysis

A Turkish 'Secure Strip' in Syria: Domestic Concerns and Foreign Limitations

Although Ankara has the necessary parliamentary authorization and professional military capacity to establish a safe zone, it would still need Western intelligence help, air support, and diplomatic backing to cover the operation and deter Russian retaliation.

Feb 19, 2016

◆

Soner Cagaptay
Cem Yolbulan

Articles & Testimony

Terror Attack in Ankara: A New Era of Kurdish Politics for Turkey?

The Kurdish issue in Turkey stands on the precipice of becoming an international problem, involving all sorts of nefarious actors from the Syrian civil war.

Feb 18, 2016

◆

Soner Cagaptay

Video

Brief Analysis

The Future of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Mosul, Economic Crisis, and Self-Determination

A senior foreign policy advisor to Iraqi Kurdish President Barzani discusses the state of U.S.-Kurdish military cooperation, the situation in Iraq and Syria, Kurdistan's economic needs, and the region's future.

Feb 9, 2016

◆

Hemin Hawrami
David Pollock
Michael Knights

Articles & Testimony

Preventing a Middle Eastern Gordian Knot

The situation in the Middle East is beginning to resemble the Balkans: either the Balkans in the early 1990s, before Washington woke up and played its role as security leader, or the Balkans before World War I, when no one woke up.

Feb 3, 2016

◆

James Jeffrey
Soner Cagaptay

Brief Analysis

A Turkish-Friendly Zone Inside Syria

Tighter border security would pose an existential threat to IS, not to mention hindering its travel, smuggling, and recruitment efforts.

Jan 29, 2016

◆

Ed Stafford
Soner Cagaptay

Articles & Testimony

In the Regional Power Struggle, has Erbil Decided to Join the Sunni Bloc?

The security of the Kurdistan Region-Iraq (KRI) depends more on agreements between Erbil and Kurdistan’s neighbors than the KRI’s own security and intelligence capabilities. Whenever the regional powers surrounding the KRI have suspected that their interests are at risk, they have not hesitated to put the KRI’s security and stability

Jan 29, 2016

◆

Frzand Sherko

Articles & Testimony

The Case for Turkey’s EU Membership

Turkey is poised to become the most pivotal country of the Middle East. Turkey’s position as the geographical, historical, religious and cultural bridge between Europe and Asia leaves it uniquely situated in the region. It is also a close regional ally of Israel and the major Arab powers of Saudi

Jan 28, 2016

◆

Maurizio Geri

Articles & Testimony

Kemal Erdogan's Second Turkish Revolution

The Turkish leader seems intent on uprooting the Ottoman legacy and restoring Islam's central role.

Jan 25, 2016

◆

Soner Cagaptay

Articles & Testimony

Biden Should Ask Turkey to Double Down on Its Commitment to the West

Although Ankara is seemingly responding to westward-oriented pressures at home and abroad, it could still swing Turkey back to the right if it continues to pursue the politics of religion, especially while the Islamic State looms on its borders.

Jan 23, 2016

◆

Soner Cagaptay

In-Depth Reports

Turkey and the United States:

Pursuing Common Interests in the South Caucasus

Russia's summer 2015 entry into the Syrian war and Turkey's subsequent shootdown of a Russian jet reportedly violating its airspace have upended previously smooth ties between Ankara and Moscow. Yet the ensuing tensions have given the United States an unprecedented opportunity to restore strong cooperation with Turkey, not only in

Jan 14, 2016

◆

Lt Col John R. Barnett

Brief Analysis

What Is Behind the Istanbul Attack?

The Islamic State's choice of target likely reflects a very deliberate attempt to short-circuit U.S.-Turkish military efforts along the Syrian border and exacerbate tensions in Europe.

Jan 13, 2016

◆

Soner Cagaptay

Sailors aboard a Turkish Naval Forces warship - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

Turkey's New Base in Qatar

Having a permanent military foothold in the Gulf will put Turkey in an elite group of powers, but more presence also means more exposure, whether to Saudi-Iranian tensions or other local crises.

Jan 11, 2016

◆

Olivier Decottignies
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.

Never miss a breaking event on U.S. policy interests in the Middle East. Customize your subscription to our expert analysis, op-eds, live events, and special reports.

Featured experts

Soner Cagaptay

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

Regions & Countries

Issues

Turkey

Policy Analysis on Turkey

Turkish Research Program

Featured experts

Regions & Countries

Issues

Turkey

Policy Analysis on Turkey

Turkish Research Program

Sign Up for Email Updates from The Washington Institute

Featured experts