[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Turkey and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Turkey Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week`s roundup to turkey@jadaliyya.com by Sunday night of every week.]
English
Rise of ISIS and Possible Role of Kurds in the Region
For Turkey, No News from Mosul is Good News Turkish courts banned reporting about the hostage crisis in Mosul, Cengiz Çandar reports.
Turkey Avoids Claims of "Hostage" Crisis in Iraq According to Orhan Kemal Cengiz, the government is trying to downplay the ISIS detention of Turkish diplomats in Mosul.
Erdoğan Demands News Black-Out; Islamist Media Has a Field Day Firdevs Robinson comments on the ban on media coverage about ISIS and the hostage crisis.
Turkey Now Says No Hostage Crisis in Mosul Turkey’s deputy foreign minister, Naci Koru, argued that the Turkish diplomats are not hostages of ISIS, Tülin Daloğlu reports.
Iraq was Always a Festering Sore Just Waiting to Burst Mark Almond connects ISIS crisis in Iraq back to the US interventions into Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001.
All You Need to Know About ISIS and What Is Happening in Iraq A comprehensive analysis of ISIS by RT News.
Turkey and ISIS in Iraq and Syria A conversation with Aaron Zelin about Turkey’s relationship with ISIS and the rise of the Jihadist movement in Iraq and Syria.
"Sunni Project" Needed to Fight ISIS, Says Mosul Governor (1)-(2)-(3) Fehim Taştekin’s interview with Atheel al-Nujaifi, the governor of Mosul, and his analysis of the situation of Turkmens in the wake of Mosul’s takeover.
Can ISIL Survive? Gökhan Bacık argues that the recent consolidation of ISIL in Iraq is seen as the culmination of a thesis on Iraq’s partition into three.
End of a Pipe Dream Yavuz Baydar argues that the only solution for the AKP is to make peace with the Kurds of both Iraq and Syria and endorse their state-building along its border.
Bewildered Foreign Policy Cafer Solgun criticizes the lack of a consistent foreign policy in Turkey.
Failed Policy! Ali Bulaç lists the reasons for the current state of affairs in Turkey under the rule of the AKP government.
The New Rules of the Game in Iraq Gareth Stansfield analyzes pre-Mosul and post-Mosul politics in Iraq.
ISIL and Other Things in Iraq Doğu Ergil suggests taking ISIL’s capacity seriously.
The Rise of ISIL: A New Era in the Middle East (1)- (2) Hatem Ete examines the developments that led to the rise and consolidation of ISIS and other Islamist/Jihadist groups in the Middle East.
Sectarianism: A Recipe for Disaster for Sunnis and Shiites (1)-(2) İbrahim Kalin warns political and religious leaders to make every efforts to prevent a sectarian war.
Hard Choices in Iraq Ömer Taşpınar does not find it very likely for the US to become involved in Iraq.
How to Manage the Endless Syrian War Henri Barkey points out that Turkey has now agreed to cooperate with the US and EU to track jihadist groups in Syria and Iraq.
Three Reasons Why Turkey Misunderstands ISIS According to Mustafa Akyol, the government and the pro-AKP media cannot accept ISIS as an extremist Islamist actor with its self-defined goals.
Iraq Crisis Hits Turkish Economy Mehmet Çetingüleç points out that Turkey is about to lose its most lucrative market as trade routes to Baghdad are blocked by ISIS.
Armageddon in the Middle East Mustafa Aydın argues that the Syrian civil war has provided a safe-haven and wider connection for ISIL to strengthen itself.
Sunni Uprising and Sectarian War According to İbrahim Karagül, Iraq was actually de facto divided into three parts among Shias, Sunnis, and Kurds.
Turkey’s Support for ISIS Islamist Terrorists Daniel Pipes claims that Turkey provided ISIS with funds, logistics, training, and arms.
Kurdistan’s Big Chance Gwynne Dyer argues that Kurdistan is probably going to be a big winner out of the crisis in Iraq.
Kurds Key to Current Turkish Politics, Domestic and Foreign Murat Yetkin argues that Kurds are playing a central role in the future of presidential elections in Turkey as well as Iraq and the ISIS crisis.
Time For Turkey To Support An Independent Iraqi Kurdistan According to Michael Koplow, the best way for Turkey to neutralize ISIS as a threat is to strengthen the Kurdish Regional Government.
The Kurds Take Kirkuk, Now What? Tanya Goudsouzian and Lara Fatah comment on Kurdish Peshmerga forces’ claim to have taken control of Kirkuk.
Can Iraqi Kurds Bank on Turkey? Can Turkey’s support be enough for the independence of Iraqi Kurds? asks Amberin Zaman.
The End of Iraq. Really? Joost Lagendijk argues that Iraq can be saved with some sort of cooperation between the US, Iran, and the Iraqi Kurds.
The Kurdish Moment in the Middle East Ofra Bengio sees the upheavals in Iraq as a chance for the Kurds to declare independence.
Turkish Kurdish Energy Cooperation in the Iraqi Conundrum Craig Bonfield analyzes the consequences of problems in Iraq on regional energy politics and the future of Iraq.
Joint Presidential Candidate of the CHP and MHP
Turkey`s Secularists Find Religion The CHP, “Turkey’s great force for secularism,” has picked a moderately religious candidate for presidential elections, Marc Champion reports.
Erdoğan Gets Surprise Presidential Rival According to Kadri Gürsel, the opposition’s joint candidate for presidential elections, Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, is a powerful rival for Erdoğan.
Portraying Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu from All Angles (1)-(2) Ahmet Hakan examines how people from different political views define Ekmeleddin Ihsanoğlu.
A Smart Choice by Turkish Opposition for Presidency Murat Yetkin finds the opposition’s joint candidate a smart tactical calculation.
Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu: A Very Good Choice According to Mustafa Akyol, İhsanoğlu is a very strong candidate not only because of his academic qualifications but also because he has the Islamic credentials that might challenge Erdoğan’s rule.
The Challenger Joost Lagendijk suggests that despite İhsanoğlu’s powerful candidacy, the outcome of presidential elections is still unpredictable.
İhsanoğlu`s Fragile Candidacy Yavuz Baydar questions whether or not İhsanoğlu could satisfy the CHP’s and MHP’s own electorates.
OIC Became CHP`s Roof (1)-(2) “Even the name of İhsanoglu means the destruction of the CHP’s Jacobean laicism,” Abdulkadir Selvi argues.
Always Betting on the Losing Horse! Yalçın Akdoğan, Erdoğan’s chief political advisor, sees İhsanoğlu’s candidacy as the CHP’s sacrificing its own ideology and identity to get more votes.
With Such Candidates, What Kind of a Turkey are We Heading for? Why are the CHP and MHP embracing the old and injured model instead of finding a new solution? Ali Bayramoğlu asks.
The Turkish Opposition Hasn`t Got a Prayer, But It Never Really Did Erik Tillman analyzes the “problematic mathematics” behind İhsanoğlu’s candidacy.
Is the Opposition’s Candidate for Presidency, İhsanoğlu, A Bigot? Barçın Yinanç believes that İhsanoğlu is a pious Muslim who has endorsed the values of democracy and human rights.
Can CHP Rally Its Troops Behind İhsanoğlu for Presidency? Reflecting on İhsanoğlu’s candidacy, Özgur Korkmaz argues that relying solely on anti-AKP rhetoric is doomed to fail.
Will Joint Presidential Candidate of the CHP and MHP Work Out? Mahmut Övür finds it paradoxical and risky for the CHP to offer an Islamist figure as a presidential candidate.
Why Ekmel Bey Matters Ahu Özyurt argues that İhsanoğlu’s chance depends on the dedication and commitment of the CHP’s voters.
Despair or Destiny? Etyen Mahcupyan argues that İhsanoğlu is the second best available option, while the best option is still Abdullah Gül.
The New Political Game Seyfettin Gursel argues that İhsanoglu can change the political game in Turkey.
Constitutional Court’s Decision on "Sledgehammer" Verdict
The Meaning of "Sledgehammer" Releases: Is This the End of the Book? (1)-(2) After the Constitutional Court’s decisions, Ali Bayramoğlu comments on the release of defendants in the Sledgehammer Case.
Releases in Balyoz Case Orhan Miroğlu points out that the release of all Sledgehammer suspects is political, not legal.
Ending the Older Witch Hunts Mustafa Akyol defines the Constitutional Court’s Sledgehammer ruling as the protection of justice.
An Exemplary Verdict by the Top Court “The Constitutional Court has served the government a lesson in law, as well as in justice, by ordering the Sledgehammer retrial,” Yusuf Kanli claims.
Sledgehammer Ruling Marks the End of An Era Yavuz Baydar argues that the Constitutional court’s ruling reveals the independence of the judiciary and rule of law.
Has Justice Been Served? Lale Kemal argues that the authoritarian and draconian style of the government still carries the risk of bringing the military back into politics, even if the junta leaders are given life sentences.
September 12 Coup Trial Verdict
Turkish Court Hands Down Life Sentence to Sept. 12 Coup Generals A high criminal court handed down life sentences to retired generals who led the 1980 military coup.
The Case of Sept 12th: Is the Age of Coups Over? Ali Bayramoğlu points out that it is the first time a military coup confronted legal enforcement on behalf of society in Turkey.
Energy and Regional Politics
Russian Oil to Feature in Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline—Circumventing Possible Sanctions? John Daly comments on the sudden interest in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline and regional energy politics.
The Russia-Ukraine Crisis: Preliminary Reflections on Turkey’s Policy Şaban Kardaş analyzes Turkey’s foreign policy in the wake of the Russian annexation of Crimea.
Little Scraps of Wisdom: Towards Deconstructing Greek-Turkish Enmity Nefin Dinc traces the roots of the enmity between Greece and Turkey.
Iran and Turkey: Unlikely Duo Amid Regional Turmoil Vartan Oskanian argues that the cooperation between Turkey and Iran is critical for long-term peace and stability in the Middle East.
Other Pertinent Pieces
Turkey Analysis for Dummies Etyen Mahcupyan points out that observing Erdoğan is not enough to understand politics in Turkey.
Turkey’s December 17 Process: A Timeline of the Graft Investigation and the Government’s Response A comprehensive analysis of the December 17 graft crisis, compiled by Hendrik Muller.
Armenian Identity in the Diaspora: Between Modernity and Preservation Laurence Ritter explains the specifics of the Armenian Diaspora formed after the 1915 Genocide.
Turkish Civil Society: Driving the Politics of Memory Cengiz Aktar analyzes the importance of the December 2008 campaigns, which apologized for the Great Catastrophe inflicted upon the Ottoman Armenians in 1915.
Let’s Talk About Construction Workers Too Commenting on the Soma mine incidents, Melis Alphan draws attention to bad working conditions in other sectors.
A New Type of Protest: The Taksim-Gezi Protests Akshan deAlwis compares the Gezi uprisings to its counterparts, such as the Arab Spring and the protests in Brazil.
Turkish
Rise of ISIS and Possible Role of Kurds in the Region
Ortadoğu’daki gelişmeler ve Türkiye (1)-(2)-(3)-(4) Soli Özel analyzes the rise of ISIS and its possible effects on Turkey.
IŞİD`in iç politikaya etkileri Bekir Ağırdır speculates over the effects of ISIS on Turkish domestic policy.
IŞİD neyi ortaya çıkardı Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu points out “what ISIS has revealed.”
IŞİD’e karşı çıkmak İslam’ı savunmaktır Standing against ISIS is nothing but defending Islam, writes Ahmet Hakan.
Mezhep siyasetinin sonu: Irak’ta IŞİD, Türkiye’de kutuplaşma “The end of sectarian policy: ISIS in Iraq, polarization in Turkey,” writes Murat Aksoy.
Bazı saçmalıkların sonu (1)-(2) The fall of Mosul put an end to the AKP’s “strategic depth” dreams and its neo-Ottoman project, Ergin Yıldızoğlu contends.
Bölgenin yeni devleti Ali Bulaç argues that ISIS is a new state of the region.
Bıkkınlık… (1)-(2) Taner Akçam argues that the Sykes-Picot agreement has been wiped out, and draws attention to the significance of the Kurdish question for Turkey.
Irak’a dair bildiklerimiz “For days we are talking on about ISIS, but we don’t really know the circumstances Iraq is situated in,” Ufuk Ulutaş claims.
Tarihsel bir kopuşla karşı karşıyayız An interview with Hamit Bozarslan on the fall of Mosul and the rise of ISID.
IŞİD dersleri Cengiz Aktar’s “ISIS lessons.”
Kaybetme sırası Kürtlerde Ragıp Zarakolu compares Kurds’ current political situation in the region to that of Albanians at the begining of the twentieth century under the rule of Ottoman Empire.
Kürtler bölge istikrarının ve modernitesinin güvencesidir (1)-(2) Interviews with Haluk Gerger on the fall of Mosul, the rise of ISIS, and the possible role of Kurds in the region.
"Türkiye Kürtleri tercih etseydi bunların hiçbiri yaşanmayabilirdi" An interview with Ruşen Çakır on the rise of ISIS, Turkey’s “strategic depth,” and the future of the Middle East.
Enerji Denkleminde Beklenmeyen Değişken: IŞİD Erdal Tanas Karagöl elaborates on ISIS as an unpredicted variable in the energy equation of the region.
Joint Presidential Candidate of the CHP and MHP
CHP’de çatı çatırdaması The CHP and MHP’s announcement about their joint presidential candidate, Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, which gave rise to a reaction within these parties, especially the CHP.
‘Çatı’ Derken According to Ali Sirmen, “a joint candidate” has backfired.
Kılıçdaroğlu: Halk tanıdıkça sevecek Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the CHP leader, suggests that the people will like their presidential candidate when they learn more about him.
Çatı Adayı: Politika ve Taktik Orhan Bursalı defends İhsanoğlu’s candidacy as policy making.
Atatürkçülük’te yol ayrımı mı Murat Belge asks whether İhsanoğlu’s candidacy implies a split within Kemalism.
İhsanoğlu… Taha Akyol express his thoughts and impressions about the opposition’s presidential candidate, Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu.
Çatı aday Gezi`nin çok uzağında Yavuz Yıldırım points out that the joint presidential candidate of the CHP and MHP is far away from the line of the Gezi uprising.
İhsanoğlu Cumhurbaşkanı, Erdoğan Başkan adayı (1)-(2)-(3) Murat Aksoy argues that İhsanoğlu is an ordinary presidential candidate, whereas Erdoğan is a candidate for a new presidential system.
Büyük kumar: Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu Koray Çalışkan reads İhsanoğlu’s presidential candidacy as a high stake gamble.
Ekmel Bey According to Gülay Göktürk, “there are two distinct Turkeys and two distinct presidential candidates.”
CHP, adayını Sosyalist Enternasyonel’den değil İslam Teşkilatı’ndan buluyorsa… Mustafa Karaalioğlu points out that the CHP nominated its candidate not from the Socialist International but rather from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Post-Kemalist laiklik yahut İslam içi siyaset Ihsanoğlu’s candidacy implies the begining of a religious republic, Mücahit Bilici argues.
Sosyolojik olarak doğru, siyaseten yanlış Hatem Ete argues that İhsanoğlu’s presidential candidacy is sociologically true but politically false.
Çatıdaki muhafazakâr! In Turkey, Akif Emre argues, two processes go hand in hand: conservatization of the system and conservatives’ identification with the system.
Ne Mursi, ne Sisi: Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu (1)-(2) Rüşen Çakır argues against pro-governmental claims that İhsanoğlu is a proponent of Egypt`s president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
`Cumhurbaşkanı profili` açısından İhsanoğlu Cengiz Çandar writes that Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu’s candidacy gave rise to nervousness within the AKP’s circles.
Umarım yanılırım According to Özgür Mumcu, an alliance among opposition parties on a candidate such as İhsanoğlu would be a better choice in second stage of the presidential election.
CHP mühendislik yapacağına siyaset yapsa keşke… Doing politics instead of engineering policy would be better for the CHP, İsmet Berkan argues.
CHP-MHP hamlesi siyasetin mâhiyetini değiştirdi The CHP’s and MHP’s move in regard to a joint presidential candidate changed the nature of Turkish politics, claims Fehmi Koru.
Mesele `muhafazakar` bir cumhurbaşkanı değil, siz hala anlamadınız mı? In Turkey’s political transformation the point is not having a conservative president, writes Nuray Mert.
Çatı adayı ve Müslüman Cumhuriyet (1)-(2) The CHP’s joint presidential candidate implies an acknowledgement of the establishment of an İslamic republic, Soli Özel contends.
‘Üç tarz-ı siyaset’Iin Turkey there are three kinds of policies, represented by the AKP, by the CHP and MHP, and by the HDP, Gençay Gürsoy argues.
Constitutional Court’s Decision on "Sledgehammer" Verdict
Balyoz hukuksuzluğu hukuk duvarına çarptı (1)-(2) According to Sedat Ergin, the law itself discharged unlawfulness in the Sledgehammer trial.
Balyoz Gülen cemaatinin başın(d)a patladı The "Sledgehammer" fell on the Gülen community, Rüşen Çakır argues.
Balyoz kararının anlamı: Kürtler hariç, genel af! The Constitutional Court’s Decision in regard to the "Sledgehammer" verdict implies a general amnesty except for Kurds, writes Ergun Babahan.
Günah keçisi ihtiyacı Murat Belge points to the need of scapegoat in the September 12 coup trial and the Sledgehammer verdict.
Other Pertinent Pieces
100 Soruda Erdoğan-Gülen Savaşı Ruşen Çakır and Semih Sakallı’s newly published book addresses the Gülen-Erdoğan war in a hundred questions.
“Akademinin Düşmanları” kim? Murat Gülsoy presents Lindsay Waters’ book Enemies of Promise, published in Turkish in 2009.
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