T urkey has always been a worrisome country with less freedom that you could demand, but now, things have come to an explosive point. Since Turkey is still regarded as a, let's say, European…
When the latest round of talks began between the parts in Cyprus, there were many colleagues and friends who were swept along with enthusiasm. 'This time, this is it!' was the phrase I had…
W hen Mine Gencel Bek and I had met - out of coincidence - in Boston in the autumn of 2014, we had no idea we would find ourselves as outcasts, although then we were concerned…
by Yavuz Baydar
'When universal values and international law are cast aside, global affairs are governed by force.'
This powerful remark printed at the end of a long, detailed report by Freedom House (FH)…
T urkey is grappling with a series of massive deadly terrorist attacks that are not random or coincidental. The government’s wrong and illegal investment in and bad strategy regarding salafi-jihadist terrorist groups has created…
by Yavuz Baydar
Forget the old guidebooks on how to conduct foreign policy. These are times that require that the modes and codes change. The official introduction of Donald Trump as the leader…
by Yavuz Baydar
Turkish President Erdoğan's playbook never runs out of surprises.
Three most recent decrees meant that 649 academics were arbitrarily fired, and 83 associations were shut down, including the well-established Kurdish Insitute,…
by Yavuz Baydar
One point emerges as undisputable after the series of terror attacks, and the assassination of the Russian ambassador in Ankara by a police officer: Turkey, now showing strong signs as 'ungovernable' under…
by Yavuz Baydar
So, this is the end. Well, more or less so if you read into the most recent General Affairs Council statements about the state of accession negotiations between Turkey and the EU.
Following…
by Yavuz Baydar
'Never mind those, it's going to be a very tough time ahead...'
When I met Marty Beth Long at the well-attended Rome MED - Mediterranean Dialogues conference in the Italian capital, I went…