Semih Idiz |
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Friday, May 24, 2013 |
Turkey’s secular and democratic identity should not be compromised for religious orthodoxy. |
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013 |
After his meeting with US President Barack Obama, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan cannot seem to win on Gaza. |
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Sunday, May 19, 2013 |
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan came to Washington to convince Washington the red line had been crossed in Syria, but he came up short. |
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Tuesday, May 14, 2013 |
Many Turks are wondering how their nation's Syrian policy can be a success when it has started costing innocent Turkish lives. |
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Friday, May 10, 2013 |
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s planned visit to Gaza has the potential to complicate both Hamas-Fatah reconciliation and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Tuesday, May 7, 2013 |
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan may find US President Barack Obama more receptive to supporting Syrian rebel forces, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Thursday, May 2, 2013 |
Without a change in its Syria policy, it will be impossible for the Erdogan government to pull out a win, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Tuesday, Apr 30, 2013 |
Turks may wonder what is the rationale for Turkey joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), given its membership in NATO and bid for EU membership. |
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Friday, Apr 26, 2013 |
Semih Idiz writes that some nationalist Turks are so uneasy with the prospect of peace with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) that they're promoting a new separatism to avoid living with Kurds in a democracy. |
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Tuesday, Apr 23, 2013 |
Turkish ultranationalists are creating a potential challenge to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party in the run-up to next year’s municipal and presidential elections, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Tuesday, Apr 23, 2013 |
Semih Idiz asks why protests outside the Turkish Embassy in Beirut calling for the release of nine Lebanese hostages held in Syria are not being reported in the Turkish press. |
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Friday, Apr 19, 2013 |
Russia and Turkey differ on Syria but nevertheless make sure it is business as usual in Turkish-Russian ties, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Tuesday, Apr 16, 2013 |
Semih Idiz considers the timing and possible consequences of the Turkish prime minister’s visit to Gaza in May. |
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Friday, Apr 12, 2013 |
Ankara and Washington share too many concerns in the Middle East for any one issue, including Turkey's interest in getting Israel to lift its blockade of Gaza, to get in the way, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Tuesday, Apr 9, 2013 |
The tensions between Ankara and Baghdad continue to increase and the US is trying to bring both sides together, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Friday, Apr 5, 2013 |
The vast gas reserves of the Eastern Mediterranean have become the 21st century’s "Great Game" in the Levant, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Tuesday, Apr 2, 2013 |
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's apology to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has led to questions about why Turkey has yet to apologize for incidents from its own past, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Friday, Mar 29, 2013 |
Turkey's ultra-nationalists are evoking the violence of the past when rallying against the government's peace process with the Kurdistan Workers Party, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Tuesday, Mar 26, 2013 |
Israel's recent apology to Turkey over the Mavi Marmara raid offers Turkey a chance to regain its lost political influence in the region, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Friday, Mar 22, 2013 |
Negotiations between Nicosia and Moscow over gas reserves off the southern Cyprus coast are being watched with concern by Ankara, which does not accept Nicosia’s claim to full sovereignty over these reserves, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Tuesday, Mar 19, 2013 |
Turkey's policies on Syria over the past two years have reduced Ankara's diplomatic leverage in the region, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Friday, Mar 15, 2013 |
Semih Idiz writes about the state of judicial reform in Turkey. |
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Tuesday, Mar 12, 2013 |
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is getting nowhere in his bid to have the European Union lift the arms embargo on Syria, and he should realize his pursuit of a military solution there is only prolonging the conflict, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Friday, Mar 8, 2013 |
Semih Idiz considers whether Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and imprisoned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan are speaking past each other in the current Imrali process. |
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Tuesday, Mar 5, 2013 |
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks about Zionism provide a catalyst for analyzing whether Turks are generally insensitive toward any kind of minority rights in Turkey, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Friday, Mar 1, 2013 |
Turkey once hoped to be a peace broker in the region, but is now increasingly seen as inflaming sectarian divisions and instability, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Tuesday, Feb 26, 2013 |
Semih Idiz writes that Ankara’s resistance to a negotiated outcome in Syria could lead to differences with Washington and perhaps to Turkey’s marginalization in efforts to end the war. |
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Friday, Feb 22, 2013 |
Semih Idiz writes that while Turkish-Israeli relations seem to be at a low, Ankara and Tel Aviv continue to engage on security and energy matters. |
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Tuesday, Feb 19, 2013 |
Tehran and Ankara are struggling to keep up appearances as differences over Iraq and Syria begin to take a toll on their bilateral relationship, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Friday, Feb 15, 2013 |
The announcement that France has lifted some roadblocks to Turkey’s membership in the European Union signals that relations between the two countries are on a more positive track, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Tuesday, Feb 12, 2013 |
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces the challenge of divided loyalties within the government and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in dealing with anti-terrorism legislation, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Friday, Feb 8, 2013 |
Semih Idiz analyzes the latest exchanges between the US and Turkey and sees no lasting damage to bilateral ties. |
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Tuesday, Feb 5, 2013 |
Semih Idiz writes that in his offer to talk with the Syrian government, Mouaz al-Khatib, head of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, has presented Ankara with a choice that has ethical and moral implications. |
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Saturday, Feb 2, 2013 |
Semih Idiz ponders some of the questions about the terrorist attack on the US embassy in Ankara, such as who provided the explosives and was there any support from outside Turkey? |
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Friday, Feb 1, 2013 |
Semih Idiz writes that the Turkish government needs a sense of urgency to address the lack of press freedom. |
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Tuesday, Jan 29, 2013 |
Turkey is struggling with a Syria policy that has served only to prolong the conflict, as Ankara finds itself at odds with Paris over both Mali and Syria, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Friday, Jan 25, 2013 |
Semih Idiz writes about the popularity of Turkish soap operas in the Arab world, and the reaction these shows are provoking in Turkey. |
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Tuesday, Jan 22, 2013 |
Semih Idiz analyzes the various rationales for NATO’s deployment of Patriot missiles to Turkey and their possible consequences. |
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Tuesday, Jan 22, 2013 |
Although Turkey has expressed its concern over the French military operation in Mali, Semih Idiz argues that Turkey’s grievances are meaningless in the face of widespread African support. |
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Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 |
Semih Idiz reviews Turkish-Israeli ties and sees no incentive for Ankara to improve ties with Israel at this time. |
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Tuesday, Jan 15, 2013 |
The murder of three PKK activists has brought attention to the changes in Turkish-French relations, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Friday, Jan 11, 2013 |
Baghdad has threatened legal action in response to the Kurdistan Regional Government's decision to export oil to Turkey, while Washington stands by, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Tuesday, Jan 8, 2013 |
Semih Idiz writes that Ankara is pleased with the nomination of Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense and US-Turkish relations are stronger than ever, despite some friction over Turkish trade with Iran. |
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Friday, Jan 4, 2013 |
Semih Idiz examines the evolution of the sectarian conflict between Turkey and Iran over Iraq and Syria. |
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Thursday, Jan 3, 2013 |
Turkey can expect more problems in dealing with both Iraq and Syria in 2013, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 |
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking a "Turkish-style presidential system," which worries democrats, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Thursday, Dec 27, 2012 |
Semih Idiz writes that Turkey’s relationship with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq shows that Ankara can not only live with an independent Kurdistan, but also cooperate with it, despite the PKK factor. |
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Sunday, Dec 23, 2012 |
While there is speculation and anticipation about the possible end of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Turkey’s challenges in Syria are far from over, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Friday, Dec 21, 2012 |
Semih Idiz explains the breakdown in Turkey-Iran relations over Syria. |
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Monday, Dec 17, 2012 |
Semih Idiz writes that while Turkey has intensified its anti-Western rhetoric to curry ties with the Arab and Islamic world, it is still invested in deepening ties with NATO and furthering its bid for EU membership. |
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Friday, Dec 7, 2012 |
Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood’s views of democracy clash with true democracy, and it is impossible to not worry about Turkey while observing what is happening in Egypt, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Friday, Dec 7, 2012 |
The anticipated meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan recognized the deep economic ties between the countries, but the real focus was Syria, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Tuesday, Oct 30, 2012 |
Turkey is earning some disastrous international grades. The European Union Progress Report and the latest Committee to Protect Journalists report were too embarrassing to bring home, writes Semih Idiz. To be listed among the worl'ds worst countries when it comes to freedom of the press is a big blemish on Turkey’s reputation. |
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Tuesday, Oct 30, 2012 |
It took an American three-star general to float the idea that Syrian rebels might be responsible for shelling Turkey to draw it into the conflict, Semih Idiz reports, bemoaning Ankara's opacity with regard to Syria. |
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Thursday, Oct 25, 2012 |
Israel’s latest offer to Ankara to restore friendly diplomatic ties is unlikely to result in a better relationship between Turkey and Israel, argues Semih Idiz. Although the two nations have common interests when it comes to Syria, the simmering resentment over the Mavi Marmara flotilla incident is unlikely to be resolved. |
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Monday, Oct 22, 2012 |
Turkey’s Prime Minister Recip Tayyip Erdogan might have rescued his country's dwindling role as a regional leader by negotiating with Iran over Syria, writes Semih Idiz. Turkey's plans to negotiate in separate groups with parties unwilling to sit down with each other — like Saudi Arabia and Iran — could allow Ankara to play the lead role in brokering a resolution to the Syrian crisis. |
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Monday, Oct 8, 2012 |
Turkey's response to Syria’s deadly shelling of its border areas was a parliamentary authorization to use military force in neighboring countries. But Semih Idiz writes that Ankara must consider the dangers of getting sucked into a war with Syria. |
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Monday, Oct 1, 2012 |
Turkish Prime Minister Recip Tayyip Erdogan’s speech raised some eyebrows at last weekend’s Justice and Development Party conference, with its heavily Islamist tone and its failure even to acknowledge Europe, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 |
The moderate governments in Libya and Tunisia were the biggest winners in the backlash to the violent protests against the anti-Islamic video, writes Semih Idiz. Tunisia and Libya, whose responses were hailed by the West, might look to Turkey for ideas on how to govern. |
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Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 |
Israel’s souring political situation is prompting it to reexamine broken ties with Turkey, its chief Muslim ally, writes Semid Idiz. But since Turkey has no real motivation to reestablish those relations, Israel has had to make efforts to address Turkish grievances. |
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Wednesday, Sep 19, 2012 |
Now that the dust is beginning to settle on demonstrations against an anti-Islam video made in the US, it's clear they were not representative of the majorities of Muslims where they took place, writes Seminh Idiz. The relatively small numbers of protesters suggest this, along with the cooperation of their new governments with the West. |
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Monday, Aug 27, 2012 |
Syria’s crisis is a broader conflict with ripples that are changing politics in every country across the Middle East. Semih Idiz contemplates the ways in which Turkey can prepare for Assad’s fall and the continued bloodletting that may follow, adding that Ankara has to turn to diplomacy, not military intervention. |
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Monday, Jun 11, 2012 |
Semih Idiz argues that although they previously admired Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and his democratic gains, EU diplomats are growing concerned over Turkey’s conservative trend. Their fears are fueled by the AKP’s pressure on the media, the detainment of intellectuals, mandatory prayer rooms in kindergartens and other similar reports. |
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Tuesday, May 22, 2012 |
Anti-Turkish demonstrations where Turkish flags were burnt were held in Basra, Iraq recently. Meanwhile, Turkish and Israeli jets confronted each other over Cyprus. But preoccupation with domestic affairs has led the Turkish government and media to put these important issues beyond its borders on the back burner, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Tuesday, May 15, 2012 |
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan formally announced his support for an AKP plan to transform Turkey into a presidential system in which he could run for office again. Semih Idiz on Erdogan's blatant attempt to hold on to power—and how it resembles Vladimir Putin's modus operandi. |
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Thursday, Mar 1, 2012 |
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the chairman of Turkey’s main opposition party, has declared that Turkey’s ruling AKP should be charged with treason. He argues it has taken controversial positions on regional issues, allowed NATO to build a missile shield in Turkey without parliamentary approval, and sold out economic interests to Russia. Interview with Semih Idiz. |
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Monday, Feb 6, 2012 |
Russia and China have used their vetoes to intervene on Assad’s behalf, prolonging the Syrian crisis and potentially increasing the odds of civil war. The news could not be worse for Ankara, and Turkish intervention - whether alone or alongside Western allies - can no longer be ruled out, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Monday, Jan 30, 2012 |
Turks cannot ignore reports that Hamas could leave Syria and open an office in Ankara, writes Semih Idiz in an opinion piece. Were this to happen, Turkey would come under pressure from its Western allies, and could be seen as fostering divisions within Palestinian ranks, he argues. |
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Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012 |
Western academics and intellectuals agree with Turkey that the French Parliament’s recent bill condeming denial of the Armenian genocide is senseless, but only because they oppose the limit it represents on freedom of opinion and expression. Turkey’s own restraints on freedom of opinion leaves it weak in a weak position to criticize France, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Thursday, Jan 12, 2012 |
The Algerian Prime Minister warned Turkey not to use the massacres of Algerians during the Algerian war of Independence as a political tool against France, which recently passed legislation criminalizing the denial of the Armenian genocide. His statements could very well be related to Turkey’s membership in NATO, and the fact that Algeria was against NATO’s campaign in Libya, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Monday, Jan 9, 2012 |
Turkey was hoping that 2012 would be a year of easy economic opportunities in the Middle East, and a time to gain ‘strategic depth’ in the region. The democratic transition underway in Egypt, as well as the crises in Syria and Iraq are all issues which have altered the strategic environment in which Ankara finds itself. These issues will require its utmost attention, writes Semih Idiz. |
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Diplomatic efforts regarding the Syrian crisis are gaining momentum, writes Semih Idiz, pointing out that the Turkish Prime Minister’s visit to Tehran coincides with the Arab League summit in Baghdad. He is surely to meet resistance after having previously accused Tehran of supporting Bashar al-Assad, with whom Turkey has broken all ties. |
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