Carnegie Europe
The stakes are just so high: more centralization of political power, dealing with a polarized society, or even shifting Turkey’s direction to the West.
For the citizens of Turkey, the upcoming elections boil down to a choice between a one-man-rule system with no checks and balances and a possible return to a more liberal and parliamentary system of governance.
Whatever the outcome of Turkey’s June 24 elections, a new presidential system will come into effect and the foreign policy, economic, and social ramifications will be significant.
Upcoming elections in Turkey will determine whether democracy in the country can rebound or will be replaced by one-man rule.
The latest standoff over energy resources in the Mediterranean illustrates the renewed risk of a military miscalculation in the region. More than ever before, diplomacy should prevail over saber rattling.
A massive deterioration of the rule of law in Turkey is making a political alliance with the EU impossible, but cooperation must continue. Supporting the country’s resilient democrats is a major political task for Brussels.
The EU’s external financing instruments should be improved to make the union’s civil society support efforts more politically effective and more closely aligned with strategic aims.
Turkey’s military operation in Afrin is a harbinger of more difficult ties with the United States.
Turkey’s offensive in Afrin helps to dispel doubts, after the failed coup attempt of July 2016, about Ankara’s ability to project force across the border.
A selection of experts answer a new question from Judy Dempsey on the foreign and security policy challenges shaping Europe’s role in the world.
Stay connected to the Global Think Tank with Carnegie's smartphone app for Android and iOS devices