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Turkey’s Position at NATO and The Russian invasion of Ukraine

The importance of geopolitics once again put Turkey in entangled relations due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Since the end of the Cold War, the existence of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) against the perceived threat of the Soviet Union has been questioned. When Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed the expansion of NATO was … Continue reading Turkey’s Position at NATO and The Russian invasion of Ukraine →

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Afghanistan 2021: Four Lessons for the International Community

Following the withdrawal of the last US troops from Afghanistan, and the Taliban’s recapture of the control, the international community is back to the drawing board. Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the US-led Western interventions in the greater Middle East have left an ugly legacy of failed states in Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Afghanistan. The … Continue reading Afghanistan 2021: Four Lessons for the International Community →

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The Conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and the Impact of COVID-19 on International Diplomacy

First Published at LSE International History Blog on 11 November 2020 While the COVID-19 pandemic currently preoccupies global politics, the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) has ended on 10 November with a Russian-brokered peace deal after six weeks of fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan. During this time, the Russian-brokered ceasefire was declared three separate times on 10, 18 … Continue reading The Conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and the Impact of COVID-19 on International Diplomacy →

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5 Reasons Why the West Got Islamist Terrorism Wrong

Published in E-IR on 14 March 2019 The ‘clash of civilizations’ thesis has become fashionably outdated but still shapes the way we understand the connection between Islam, terrorism and the Middle East.  In 2019, it is time to ‘forget the Middle East’ and change the way we perceive Islam.  Vera Mironova, in ‘The New Face … Continue reading 5 Reasons Why the West Got Islamist Terrorism Wrong →

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Islamophobia is preventing the empowerment of Muslim women repressed by political agendas

First published on The Conversation on 3 September and last updated on 5 September 2018 For many, Muslim veiling represents the oppression of women in Islam. The head and/or face veils are a frequent topic of debate, which suggests that “saving” Muslim women from their oppressive religion is a moral duty of the West. But focusing on the (in)visibility … Continue reading Islamophobia is preventing the empowerment of Muslim women repressed by political agendas →

Jamal #Khashoggi’s murder ends the Saudi game of reforms in the Arab World

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is once again at the centre of international attention. This time it is not because of a failed coup, presidential elections or a financial crisis, but the murder of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who disappeared at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. A passionate advocate of free speechand democracy, Khashoggi … Continue reading Jamal #Khashoggi’s murder ends the Saudi game of reforms in the Arab World →

Deadlock in #Idlib and Tehran Summit between #Russia, #Iran and #Turkey

First published '#Turkey's Eastern Allies and Deadlock in #Idlib" on Ahval on 12 September 2018 Last week’s Tehran summit meeting between the presidents of Russia, Iran and Turkey was the last chance to find a diplomatic solution to stave off a likely Syrian government offensive on the rebel-held province of Idlib, where three million civilians trapped . … Continue reading Deadlock in #Idlib and Tehran Summit between #Russia, #Iran and #Turkey →

The paradoxes of ‘new’ Turkey: Islam, illiberal democracy and republicanism

First published in International Affairs, 93: 4, 1 July 2017, Chatham House, London. Turkey is in turmoil. It was the first Muslim country to engage with European modernity and transformed itself from the Ottoman Empire into a secular nationstate at the beginning of the twentieth century. Modern Turkey has been at the centre of debates … Continue reading The paradoxes of ‘new’ Turkey: Islam, illiberal democracy and republicanism →