Insight Turkey / issues

Editor's Note | Fall 2025

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 15:02:00 GMT

Taken together, the contributions in this issue situate the idea of a “Terror-Free Türkiye” within a broader intellectual and geopolitical context, highlighting the deep interconnections between security, sovereignty, diplomacy, and social legitimacy. They underscore that durable peace demands not only military measures but also political participation and institutional renewal. We hope readers will find in these analyses a rigorous and reflective contribution to ongoing debates on security, conflict resolution, and the prospects for a more stable future in Türkiye and the region.

A Türkiye-Specific Model for Ending Terrorism: “Terror-Free Türkiye”

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 14:18:00 GMT

This commentary explains the basis on which the Turkish authorities launched a new political initiative, called Terror-Free Türkiye, which aims to end terrorism, and analyzes how its roadmap was created based on the experiences accumulated during previous resolution processes. It also examines how this process, which could be described as the Turkish model, has been carried out, unlike resolution processes worldwide. Accordingly, the origins and critical thresholds of the process, along with the role of the parliamentary commission, are included in this analysis to demonstrate that it amounts to an original approach referred to as the Turkish model. Last but not least, this article briefly discusses whether the goal of a terror-free Türkiye and a terror-free region is achievable.

Terror-Free Türkiye: More than Eliminating Weapons from the Story

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 16:25:00 GMT

The new political process in Türkiye, initiated by Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and the aim for a terror-free Türkiye through the dissolution of the PKK, can be considered a result of both internal and external dynamics. Among the internal dynamics, the process has reached its current state through political steps toward a peaceful resolution of the Kurdish issue, albeit with occasional interruptions. Social memory regarding the problem and lessons learned from previous peace processes are also key dynamics of this path. Among the external dynamics, the events that unfolded, particularly the Gaza genocide, demonstrating that no people in the region are safe, have strengthened the will to resolve internal problems. The effort to eliminate the problems or pretexts that make the region and the country vulnerable to external interventions also accelerates these processes. If this process can be maintained steadily despite potential setbacks, it will not only eliminate terrorism and violence from daily life but also offer the possibility of a more just and peaceful socio-political order.

Contribution of an NGO to the Terror-Free Türkiye Initiative: IHH’s Perspective

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 17:08:00 GMT

In Türkiye, İHH has been particularly engaged with the Kurdish issue, a long-standing political, social, and security challenge, addressing its structural, economic, cultural, and political dimensions through humanitarian aid, research, advocacy, dialogue initiatives, and civil society mobilization, especially in the eastern and southeastern provinces. This commentary examines İHH’s long-term contributions to the Kurdish issue, and shifting Middle Eastern geopolitics, including recent developments in Syria and the “National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Process,” arguing that sustainable peace depends not only on political will but also on strong, justice-oriented civil society engagement, with organizations like İHH serving as key bridges between the state, society, and affected communities.

The ‘Türkiye Model:’ An Original Paradigm for Resolving Conflicts Involving Armed Non-State Actors

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 15:21:00 GMT

This article examines the dissolution of terrorist organizations in a comparative perspective through the examples of the IRA, ETA, LTTE, FARC, and PKK. It is emphasized that organizations are sometimes politicized through democratic transformation, and sometimes dismantled through military methods. The IRA and ETA, after long conflicts, chose the path of political representation under the influence of peace agreements and social demands; the FARC laid down arms under international mediation and comprehensive reforms. In contrast, the LTTE was eliminated through military operations due to its absolutist nature and radical methods. For Türkiye, the so-called terror-free Türkiye process, launched in 2024, differs markedly from these examples. Unlike peace processes based on negotiations and concessions, the Türkiye model is based on a completely sovereignty-oriented, interference-free, and unilateral organizational dissolution. The PKK’s voluntary disarmament and dissolution mark the end of ethno-nationalist demands. Thus, the Türkiye model offers a unique approach that can be defined as a new sovereignty-based paradigm in the international literature.

Iranian Shiitization Activities during al-Assad Family’s Era

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 16:01:00 GMT

Since the establishment of the Syrian–Iranian alliance in 1980, Iran has been able, with the approval of Hafez al-Assad and later his son Bashar, to employ its foreign policy toward Syria to spread its religious and cultural ideology. During the era of Hafez, Shiism emerged gradually as a noticeable phenomenon in Syria, while during Bashar’s era it took a new direction, particularly during the Syrian revolution. During this period, Iran and its Shia militias gained a significant presence on Syrian territory under the pretext of defending Shia shrines. This study examines the developmental stages of Shiitization activities in Syria and clarifies their impact on the Syrian social entity. The findings indicate that the expansion of Shia activities across cultural, educational, healthcare, economic, and religious sectors, combined with harsh war conditions, facilitated Iran’s dissemination of its religious ideology. These policies contributed to demographic changes, deepened sectarian divisions, and may affect the internal balance of power in the so-called “Useful Syria” regions.

Current State of the Eastern Mediterranean Energy: A SWOT Analysis of Israel’s Role

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 16:42:00 GMT

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the Eastern Mediterranean region has been the scene of important political conflicts. The discovery of natural gas, which gained momentum after 2000, further intensified these rivalries and reshaped the regional landscape. However, due to ongoing disputes and uncertainties regarding maritime jurisdiction in the Mediterranean Sea, the extraction of existing and potential reserves has led to new areas of contention among the involved countries. In a context where cooperation is essential to resolving maritime jurisdiction issues, these countries are compelled to revise their policies. As a key player in the region, Israel closely follows all developments in the Mediterranean. This analysis provides a comprehensive overview of Israel’s role in the Eastern Mediterranean energy equation, examining its policies, partnerships, and initiatives through SWOT analysis. It also focuses on the developments following Tel Aviv’s renewed war on Gaza, launched after October 7, 2023, revealing that Israel’s potential future role in the field of energy faces significant challenges, closely linked to the country’s regional policies.

New Horizons in Conference Diplomacy: A Comparative Analysis of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum and the Valdai Discussion Club

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 17:18:00 GMT

Conference diplomacy is one of the most important phenomena in the history of modern international relations. This form of diplomacy, long overshadowed by the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815), has been regarded as a key platform for post-war order-building. However, with the changing world order in the 21st century, there have been fundamental changes in conference diplomacy. Conferences have come to the forefront not only in post-war periods but also in times of peace as a medium for the search for solutions to regional and global problems. In this context, the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, and the Valdai Discussion Club (VDC), organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, are prominent examples of conference diplomacy. This study aims to compare these two conference diplomacy channels. To this end, comparative analysis is used in this study. Accordingly, Paul Meerts’ classification is used to compare the objectives, activities, formats, participation levels, and agenda-setting capacity of both conference series. In this context, the study examines which mechanism is more effective based on online and periodical publications from both conferences.

Türkiye’s World and International Law: Convergence with the Rest

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 0:12:00 GMT

Celal Nuri (1882-1936) asserts that “international law is defective.” Through Celal Nuri’s critique of international law in the early 1900’s, I introduce a Turkish historical counterpart to contemporary critiques of international law and explore potential points of convergence with TWAIL. This quest reveals that the rampant Eurocentric positivism that plagued the Turkish legal education on international law runs counter to the historical critical engagement. The unequal encounter, the centre point of TWAIL, is reflected in Celal Nuri’s critique through the multi-layered geography of Türkiye, which I preferably capture as “geography within geography.” His critique of international legal scholarship is directed both at his European and Ottoman contemporaries. Without subscribing to a strictly territorialized epistemology, Celal Nuri calls for a critical Ottoman school of international law that is multidimensional with both theoretical and pedagogical components. Celal Nuri’s nuanced critique of colonial enterprise in the context of international law generates a historical precedent for my convergence thesis. This historical Turkish critique establishes the self-contradictory monstrous character of colonial international law through the juxtaposition of the purported civility of European colonialism and its colonial practices. This historical rejection of the racialised duality of international law should constitute the basis of the convergence of the Turkish scholarship with TWAIL and the revitalization of its criticality.

Political and Economic Relations between Türkiye and Italy: A Pathway to More Cooperation in the Mediterranean

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 0:24:00 GMT

Türkiye and Italy share a long-standing relationship rooted in historical, political, economic, and cultural interactions, making them two strategically significant actors in the Mediterranean region. Both countries play pivotal roles in shaping the geopolitical landscape of the region, often balancing cooperation and competition. On this basis, the article seeks to offer a nuanced understanding of the bilateral relationship and explore avenues for enhancing cooperation while mitigating potential conflicts, including modern type of hybrid warfare. By offering a comprehensive analysis, it aims to serve as a valuable resource for decision-makers, academics, and practitioners interested in fostering more sustainable and productive Türkiye-Italy relations. Understanding the dynamics of this relationship is essential for promoting regional stability and economic growth, ultimately contributing to a more integrated and cooperative Mediterranean region.

Current Modalities of the Foreign Policy Decision-Making of Uzbekistan from an IR Theoretical Perspective

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 9:55:00 GMT

This article explores the complex landscape of decision-making in the foreign policy of Uzbekistan. By analyzing the prominent actors and underlying factors, the study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how foreign policy choices are formulated and implemented in the context of Uzbekistan’s geopolitical position and historical background. The authors conduct an in-depth analysis of the actors and factors, constants and variables influencing foreign policy decision-making in the Republic of Uzbekistan, by using such methods as realism and liberalism, as well as comparative and content analysis, to shed light on the key factors influencing the formation of the country’s foreign policy decisions. The analysis encompasses regional engagement, economic diplomacy, security concerns, and international partnerships, shedding light on the dynamics shaping Uzbekistan’s role in the global arena.

Democratic Limits of Engagement between Religion and Politics: The Case of Türkiye

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 10:19:00 GMT

Formed of two major parts, the first part of this article investigates the limits of engagement between religion and politics in democracies with an extended theoretical discussion, and the second part offers a qualitative examination of the empirical Turkish case. Democratic theory provides a broad space of action for religion in political life in the context of pluralism and peaceful coexistence, freedom of religion as a basic human right, religious contributions to democratization, and practical use of religion in many democracies today. The Turkish case, examined vis-à-vis three variables, reveals that the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), firstly, exists as an official state department with pronounced finances and human resources yet to be devoid of any notable powers and autonomy in sociopolitical life. Secondly, despite various reforms adopted by the government, the field of religious education is fraught with various elements of discontent still for reasons like the management of religious education by the state almost totally, and denial of Diyanet and religious communities from the field. And finally, although much progress is recorded for greater religious rights and liberties for various religious groups in the country, a degree of dissatisfaction still continues mostly because of a load of structural problems that predate the current government.

The Discursive Foundations of Chinese Foreign Policy under Xi Jinping: A Non-Western Theoretical Analysis

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 10:48:00 GMT

China’s economic rise in the 21st century has prompted analyses of how this ascent will be reflected in the political sphere. Analyses in Western-centric media outlets and academia have predominantly focused on the notion that China will seek hegemony and an alternative international order in parallel with its economic rise. The central claim of this study is that these analyses, primarily based on realist and liberal assumptions, are incompatible with Xi Jinping’s foreign policy discourse. Therefore, Chinese foreign policy should be analyzed from an alternative theoretical perspective. Building on this claim, this study first analyses the general framework of the discourse on which Chinese foreign policy was built during the Xi Jinping era. Subsequently, this discourse is examined in Tianxia, a China-centered non-Western theory. This analysis, supported by examples of concrete foreign policy steps in the concluding section of the study, aims to provide a non-Western perspective on Chinese foreign policy.

Relational Power and Status: India, the United States, and the Quad in the Indo-Pacific

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 16:10:00 GMT

India’s foreign policy demonstrates a marked evolution, characterized by closer ties with the United States and an active role in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) alongside Australia and Japan. Situated strategically at the confluence of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, India assumes a central role in mitigating China’s expanding regional influence. The Quad serves as a platform through which India reinforces strategic partnerships while preserving flexibility, eschewing formal military alliances in favor of a focus on strategic autonomy and non-traditional concerns such as climate resilience and infrastructure development. By engaging with the Quad, India not only enhances its international stature but also derives benefits as a positional and club good, gaining global recognition and access to critical resources, including advanced military technologies. Through the strategic use of relational power, India shapes the Quad’s agenda to align with its priorities, reflecting its nuanced approach to balancing autonomy and regional influence within the Indo-Pacific framework. This article argues that India’s relational power within the Quad helps it shape the forum’s agenda and convert membership into status-enhancing recognition and exclusive cooperation benefits.

Defying Small-State Orthodoxy: The UAE’s Outlier Trajectory toward Middle-Power Status

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 15:46:00 GMT

By analyzing the three works above, this article argues that the United Arab Emirates’ post-2011 transformation cannot be explained within the behavioral boundaries traditionally assigned to small states. Rather than conforming to the passivity, risk aversion, or alliance dependency that the small-state literature prescribes, the UAE has demonstrated a sustained pattern of strategic autonomy, assertive interventionism, and identity-driven statecraft.

A Climate of Truth: Why We Need It and How to Get It

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 15:58:00 GMT

In A Climate of Truth: The Science, the Solutions, and the Road to a Better Future, Mike Berners-Lee offers a timely and accessible reflection on the current state of the climate emergency and the collective narratives surrounding it.

Understanding the Syrian Refugee Crisis in Turkey: Perspective from Actors

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 11:18:00 GMT

The book Understanding the Syrian Refugee Crisis in Turkey: Perspective from Actors by Emrah Atar, a scholar with expertise in migration and urban governance, analyzes the Syrian refugee crisis’s influence on Türkiye’s healthcare and education system.

Hidden Hate: The Resilience of Xenophobia

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 11:26:00 GMT

Hidden Hate: The Resilience of Xenophobia by Mathew Creighton revalues xenophobia as a dynamic and multidimensional phenomenon rather than simply overt hostility toward immigrants.

Algeria Politics and Society from the Dark Decade to the Hirak

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 11:34:00 GMT

Willis’s study fills a crucial gap in the literature with its comprehensive examination of the postcolonial period. His extensive use of primary sources enhances both the richness of the data and its analytical power.

Power of Bonding and Non-Western Soft Power Strategy in Iran: Comparing China and India’s Engagement

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 11:39:00 GMT

In an era where Western-centric soft power strategies dominate global politics, the soft power practices of non-Western countries are often overlooked.