In Turkey, green protests can go beyond environmental issues and include demands for more inclusive and transparent governance. But while climate activism can help keep the opposition alive, the country’s democratic future is still in question.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s negative stance toward Finland and Sweden joining NATO jeopardizes further enlargement of the alliance amid great geopolitical insecurity. Breaking this stalemate will require a compromise from all sides.
Clashes between Turkey and the PKK have recently intensified. By ramping up confrontation with the Kurdish armed movement in Syria and Iraq, Turkish President Erdogan is likely to improve his chances of reelection in 2023.
The move to block Finland’s and Sweden’s bids threatens the relationship between Ankara and the West.
Recent elections in Europe may provide Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan with useful examples on how to undermine the integrity of the country’s democratic processes. These include the use of disinformation, media blackouts, and state resources to advantage the incumbent party.
Given Turkey’s fears of Russian aggression, as well as the opportunity the invasion provides for Ankara to reassert itself as a diplomatic heavyweight, Erdogan’s motives to play intermediary between Kyiv and Moscow are clear. However, the odds of success in these negotiations are mixed at best.
Since coming to power in 2002, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has overseen a radical transformation of the country. The panelists will analyze the political trajectory of Erdoğan’s regime, discuss the current state of affairs, and look ahead to Turkey’s 2023 presidential election.
Turkish President Erdogan has long played Russia and Ukraine against each other, squeezing out the best deal for himself. However, as the fighting intensifies and the West ratchets up the pressure on Vladimir Putin, Ankara is under pressure to finally pick a side.
Since coming to power in 2002 Recep Tayyip Erdogan has overseen a radical transformation of Turkey. Once a pillar of the Western alliance, the country has embarked on a militaristic foreign policy, and its democracy, sustained by the aspiration to join the European Union, has given way to one-man rule.
In a complex, changing, and increasingly contested world, the Carnegie Endowment helps countries take on the most difficult global problems and safeguard peace and security through independent analysis, strategic ideas, support for diplomacy, and training the next generation of international scholar-practitioners. Join our mailing list to become part of our network of more than 150 scholars in 20 countries.
Sign up to receive emails from Carnegie!