“Is Islam a ‘democratic’ religion?” “Is Islam compatible with democracy?” “What is the relationship between religion and governance in a Muslim country?” For the past decade, Americans have increasingly questioned whether Islam and democracy are compatible. What many participants to the debate do not realize is that a similar debate took place more than a […]
While the Turkish Justice and Development Party’s (AKP’s) record on democracy and foreign policy is less than perfectly in accord with European or U.S. preferences, the Turkish opposition has often appeared even worse, given its chauvinistic nationalism, shortsightedness, and anti-Western views. Signs indicate, however, that this dynamic is changing. Since taking over as chair of […]
Turkish-American relations have always been defined as a ‘strategic partnership’. Almost without exception, decision-makers and diplomats at the highest levels point to a particular ‘importance of the strategic partnership’ or ‘relationship’ whenever they try to define bilateral relations between Turkey and the United States. Surprisingly at the public level, we take this definition for far […]
PROTESTS IN SYRIA While the NATO intervention in Libya continues, protests in Arabian Peninsula spreads to Syria after Yemen and Bahrain; against President Bashar al-Assad who ruled the country more than three decades after his father Hafez al-Assad’s regime. The Assads originally came from an elite minority in Syria which established itself first in top […]
As NATO prepares to take over the command of Libya air operations, NATO spokesman has indicated on March 25 that the İzmir NATO Airbase in Turkey will act as the command and communications center for further air operations. With this capacity a Turkish major-general and an American lieutenant-general will have the ‘authority and responsibility’ for […]
Turkey as the ‘protecting power of the United States’ in Libya ‘Turkey has agreed to be our protecting power in Libya,’ Mark Toner, a State Department spokesman, told reporters today, referring to the new role Ankara will play serving US interests in Tripoli. There were signs Turkey was effectively playing such a role when Turkish […]
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu’s visit to Greece two weeks ago produced the usual positive rhetoric about a “new impetus” in Turkish-Greek relations, but a closer look reveals growing strain and urgency. With the Cyprus issue in deadlock, the main issues under discussion are territorial disputes in the Aegean and illegal immigration into the EU […]
Military Intervention: Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had spoken during the Leaders of Change Summit in Istanbul March 14, 2011 and held out against growing international calls to impose a no-fly zone over Libya, saying such operation would be unhelpful and fraught with risk. “Military intervention by NATO in Libya or any other country would […]
Turkey on Wednesday reiterated its commitment for a Russian-built nuclear plant in an important show of confidence in atomic energy as Japan tried to prevent major radioactive contamination. President Dmitry Medvedev and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stressed that nuclear power could be safe even for earthquake-prone areas such as Japan and Turkey. “I […]
After decades of mistrust, the relationship between NATO and Russia is finally improving. A genuine partnership must develop in the long term, however at the summit in Lisbon on November 19 and 20, NATO intended to adopt a new strategy and also improve its relations with Russia. This is not the first time since the […]
The tension between Turks and Greeks have always been remarkable due to long history of wars. The elderly population from both sides continues to pass on their judgments to next generations. Even though there is hope for talks between Turkish and Greek youth for the sake of economical relations, it seems like the hatred still […]