Insight Turkey / issues

Editor's Note | Winter 2026

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:34:00 GMT

This issue records the great historical tension between the chaotic atmosphere into which the Middle East has been pushed by the U.S. and Israel and the stable system that some regional countries, such as Türkiye, seek to establish. The future of the region will be shaped by the outcome of this struggle between those who submit to hegemonic aggression and those who pursue strategic autonomy. We hope this issue will serve as a valuable and thought-provoking resource, offering diverse perspectives to help readers better understand the current dynamics in the Middle East and the possible trajectories that lie ahead.

Warfare for a Dying World Order: What the U.S.-Israel-Iran War Means

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:38:00 GMT

Contemporary warfare increasingly reflects an international environment in which military force is deployed unilaterally and beyond established legal frameworks. In this context, war emerges as a central instrument for managing contested sovereignties and “surplus populations” through two distinct but overlapping modalities: annihilatory warfare, aimed at erasing the conditions for human presence, and asymmetrical confrontation, in which overwhelming force encounters adaptive strategies of resistance. Iran constitutes a critical case within this evolving landscape. Decades of sanctions, isolation, and geopolitical pressure have contributed to the development of asymmetrical and unconventional warfare capabilities that complicate, though do not eliminate, structural power imbalances. These dynamics resonate with earlier post-Cold War patterns of unilateralism and the instrumentalization of international law, yet also point to an important transformation: the declining need for legal or moral justification by dominant powers. Taken together, these developments suggest the emergence of a post-unipolar condition, in which the coherence of post-Cold War unipolarity has eroded without being replaced by a stable alternative order. Within this framework, the “Iran war” may be understood as an early manifestation of this phase, marked by fragmented authority, weakened normative constraints, and increasingly unrestrained uses of force.

The Gaza Genocide: From Bombardment, Displacement, and Starvation to a New U.S.-Israeli Occupation

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:38:00 GMT

This article discusses the genocide in Gaza since 2023, now widely recognized by scholars, as a distinctive case in which Israel has used military force and other means to cripple Palestinian society in the territory, and has largely succeeded in this goal. The article discusses how Israel has displaced the population from its homes but has been blocked from converting internal displacement into external expulsion. It discusses how Israel’s intensified bombing and starvation policies after the return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency in 2025 led to a growing alienation of international public opinion and Trump’s pivot to his “peace plan.” Analyzing how Trump’s centrality exposes the international Western character of the genocide, the article discusses the emerging new, supposedly internationalized U.S.-Israeli occupation of Gaza and how the Gaza genocide has catalyzed a new age of genocide, with a genocidal mentality also evident in the new wars launched by the U.S. and Israel, and far-right mass deportation schemes.

Unfolding Hegemony: Why Saudi Arabia Is Israel’s Next Target Post-2026 Iran War

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:40:00 GMT

Following the 2023 Israeli genocidal war on Gaza, Israel has pursued an expansive, revisionist strategy to establish undisputed regional hegemony. This strategy involved the occupation of additional territories in Lebanon and Syria in 2024, followed by a sustained conflict with these nations. It also included a 12-day war with Iran in 2025 that weakened Tehran’s military capabilities, the annexation of the West Bank in 2026, and the initiation of a second war against Iran aimed at shifting the regional balance of power in Israel’s favor amid the rising alignment of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt, and Pakistan. While prevailing Israeli security discourse identifies Türkiye as the next primary threat, this article argues that Israel’s post-Iran strategic focus will actually center on Saudi Arabia. Rather than military confrontation, Israel will likely pressure Riyadh to join the Abraham Accords via several means. The article explains the Israeli rationale and concludes that securing Saudi normalization remains Israel’s ultimate strategic prize, a necessary step to marginalize Palestinian national aspirations, isolate Türkiye, and legitimize its hegemonic project.

The Geopolitics of Connectivity and the Development Road Project

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:41:00 GMT

This article explores the growing significance of connectivity in contemporary geopolitics, using the Development Road Project led by Türkiye and Iraq as a central case study. It argues that large-scale infrastructure initiatives are no longer confined to economic development agendas but have become key instruments of geopolitical competition and strategic influence. In this context, connectivity is conceptualized as a multidimensional framework through which states shape power by controlling trade routes, energy corridors, and logistical networks. The Development Road Project, designed to link the Basra Gulf to Europe via Iraq and Türkiye, exemplifies this emerging paradigm. Beyond establishing a new transportation corridor, the project has the potential to restructure regional trade flows, enhance the Middle East’s integration into global supply chains, and create alternative routes to existing maritime pathways. It may also contribute to Iraq’s economic diversification and reinforce Türkiye’s ambition to become a major logistics hub. However, the initiative unfolds within a complex environment marked by corridor competition and persistent security risks. Therefore, its success will depend not only on technical implementation but also on sustained political coordination and regional stability.

Syria in the Making: One Year of Struggle for Recognition and Territorial Unity

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:44:00 GMT

Approximately one year after the fall of the Assad regime, Syria has made concrete progress in securing international recognition and stabilizing the country. This commentary examines the two key dynamics shaping Syria’s transition: diplomatic recognition and territorial unification. It concludes that the main domestic and foreign policy challenges facing the country in the next phase are as follows. First, it analyzes Syria’s prioritization of regional relations, how regional alignment created momentum for broader international engagement, and why foreign relations were key to addressing domestic security challenges. Second, it explores Syria’s pathway toward territorial unification, including major setbacks in the coastal areas and in Sweida, as well as the collapse of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which marked a strategic turning point in the transition and potentially enabled Damascus to redirect its national policy priorities. Finally, the article highlights the next domestic and foreign policy challenges facing Syria’s transition, with particular focus on implementing the integration agreement with the SDF/YPG and addressing social expectations regarding key political and economic imperatives.

Shattered Status Quo: Iranian Resilience and the Limits of U.S. Strategy

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:46:00 GMT

The nearly 50-year-long tension between the United States and Iran has culminated in a broad, high-intensity conflict. The visible dynamics that have escalated this tension into a kinetic confrontation include Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, as well as its ties to proxy groups. Nonetheless, many analysts argue that the war has been triggered and propelled by Israel’s manipulation and provocation. Iran’s resilient response calls into question the strategic calculations of one of the largest and most lethal military mobilizations. This study examines the actions of the warring parties, their tactical and strategic calculations, and their intended objectives, while also assessing the likely outcome of the conflict. The analysis contends that, despite achieving certain short-term tactical gains, the U.S.-Israeli side has failed to establish a coherent strategic plan or attain its political objectives. Observations indicate that miscalculations by the U.S. and Israel have propagated costs across the entire region. Finally, the study emphasizes that the regional balance and dynamics will not remain unchanged after this war, especially considering the profound transformative potential accompanying the transition of Iran’s supreme leader.

Syria after Assad: Between American Conditionality and Russian Recalibration

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:49:00 GMT

The collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024 forced a fundamental recalibration of Syria’s external relationships, particularly with the U.S. and Russia. This article argues that post-Assad Syria is not experiencing straightforward normalization but a structured renegotiation of influence. Washington has shifted from comprehensive sanctions and military containment toward conditional engagement, redesigning sanctions as bargaining infrastructure to incentivize counter-ISIS cooperation and enable gradual troop drawdowns, while exposing new vulnerabilities, especially in detainee management and northeast governance. Moscow, in contrast, has moved from regime patronage to managed relevance, seeking to preserve strategic basing rights and limited economic leverage under tighter regional and geopolitical constraints. The resulting order is neither alliances nor ruptures, but a probationary equilibrium shaped by security imperatives, reconstruction politics, and competing forms of external leverage. Syria’s trajectory now depends less on summit diplomacy than on whether transitional institutions can stabilize authority without reproducing coercive fragmentation.

Evaluation of Developments in the Sahel Region within the Context of Türkiye-France Relations

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:50:00 GMT

This study examines the shifting power dynamics in the Sahel region within the context of Türkiye-France relations. The erosion of France’s traditional dominance in the region and Türkiye’s increasing influence have given rise to a new competitive dynamic between the two nations. The analysis focuses on France’s decline following Operation Barkhane and Türkiye’s initiatives in the diplomatic, economic, and military spheres, assessing their implications for changing security balances and diplomatic rivalry. Drawing on international relations theories, the article establishes a conceptual framework centered on the notions of regional power vacuums and the role of rising middle powers. The future perspectives section explores the evolution of power dynamics in the Sahel and potential scenarios for cooperation or competition, while the conclusion evaluates the findings in light of the broader literature on international relations, security studies, and African studies.

Toward an Environmental Agency Model for the Organization of Turkic States

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:19:00 GMT

In the 21st century, balancing economic growth and environmental sustainability has become a major challenge for nations, as transboundary issues require stronger multilateral governance. The OTS, covering a strategically important region from Anatolia to Turkestan, has significant potential to address shared environmental problems through collective regional actions. In line with the environmental sustainability and green transition goals of the OTS 2040 Vision Document, this study suggests creating a dedicated environmental agency. Using a qualitative research approach the study reviews member countries’ environmental conditions, assesses the sustainability goals of the 2040 Vision, and examines the design and roles of the proposed agency. Modeled after the European Environment Agency but adapted to OTS’ specific needs, the agency would serve as a non-regulatory platform for sharing knowledge, coordinating policies, and building capacity. Its governance structure includes a member-state governing board, an executive technical team, a scientific advisory group, and a national focal-point network. The results indicate that such an agency could enhance the Turkic world’s participation in global environmental governance, improve environmental diplomacy, and foster cooperation on the green economy among member states.

The Day After the 12 Day War: Where Do the U.S., Iran, and the Region Stand in Terms of Proliferation/Non-Proliferation?

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:23:00 GMT

A debate emerged after the 12 Day War between Iran and Israel and the U.S. Operation Midnight Hammer targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities. The key issue is whether Washington significantly damaged Iran’s nuclear capacity and how long recovery to pre-war levels would take. Another question is whether these strikes will deter nuclear proliferation or instead encourage covert programs like North Korea’s. These uncertainties persist as the Trump Administration signals possible further action. Answering them is crucial for the credibility of the NPT regime and U.S. security guarantees in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. This paper evaluates whether the region is becoming proliferation-oriented and why Iran halted the AMAD Plan. According to the authors of this paper, Iran’s forward defense strategy has been restrained considerably and its threshold deterrence strategy was shown to be ineffective against Israel and the U.S. -via the 12 Day War. According to this paper the U.S. decision to join 12 Day War by itself reflects the U.S. preference not to permit even threshold/enrichment proliferation in the Middle East.

Opportunities and Anxieties of Homecoming: The Role of Education in Syrian Refugees’ Return Decisions

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:24:00 GMT

After over a decade of conflict and displacement in Syria, renewed discussions on post-war return have highlighted the conditions under which displaced populations envision and negotiate their return. In post-conflict environments, return involves more than just physical relocation; it encompasses complex issues of belonging, identity, and future planning. This research explores how education influences Syrian high school students and their parents residing in Türkiye, shaping their ideas of return, using the concept of homecoming. Using qualitative interviews with Syrian high school students and parents, the study finds that while security, economic opportunities, and social belonging influence decisions to return, access to education and future prospects emerge as the most decisive factors. The results show that students tend to conceptualize return not as an immediate decision, but as a conditional and ongoing process linked to their educational experiences. In this view, homecoming is a future-focused process driven by expectations of stability, social acknowledgement, and mobility, rather than nostalgia for pre-war life. The study enhances understanding of forced migration and return by emphasizing education as a vital element in analyzing refugee youth’s views on returning home after conflict.

Can the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Serve as a Collective Security Organization?

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:25:00 GMT

The Middle East is engulfed in chaos regarding peace and security, exacerbated by issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, ethnic and religious divisions, civil wars fueled by power struggles, military interventions by global actors, and terrorism. The traditional policies adopted by international and regional actors have proven ineffective in resolving these problems, highlighting the need for a new security paradigm in the region. Addressing the security challenges in the Middle East is crucial to mitigating the deepening and expanding security crises and ensuring lasting stability. This study sought to answer a key question: “Is it possible for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to play an active role in establishing and maintaining peace and security in the Middle East?” The research aimed to identify the obstacles that hinder the OIC from becoming an effective actor and to propose potential solutions. Furthermore, the study analyzed whether an international organization-centered approach, based on collective security, could serve as an alternative to the traditional policies centered on individuals, groups, and states that dominate the search for security in the Middle East. This analysis was conducted through the lens of the OIC. The findings and recommendations of this study aim to contribute to the Middle East studies literature, particularly from a security perspective.

The Trouble Triangle: Islamophobia, Neoliberalism, and the Construction of Muslim Identity as “Other”

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:27:00 GMT

It has been more than 1,400 years since Muslim communities were classified as “other.” Understanding the ideological background is crucial to comprehending the subtleties of Islamophobic thought, as seen by how Muslims have been portrayed as threats throughout history. Human rights have suffered because of the unjustified fear of Islam and its adherents. Numerous citizens faced prejudice, which hindered their freedom and resulted in some losing their lives. The purpose of this research is to elucidate the causes of this phenomenon’s continued existence. The following study employed a quantitative method to analyze Carr’s Islamophobic and neoliberalism theory, U.S. funding sources for Islamophobic content (2009-2011), six prominent international press media analyses (2014-2017), and the latest Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) report analysis on Islamophobia. The study’s findings suggest that Islamophobia –the term for the irrational fear of Islam and its adherents– persists because neoliberalism as an ideology supports it. Neoliberalism sees Islamic teachings as a danger to its system and uses a tactic known as cultural cleansing as a result. This tactic is applied in two stages: (i) cultural unification and (ii) intellect depletion. The civilizing mission – which divides citizens into good and evil categories– is accomplished based on these two processes. The ideology of neoliberalism in this situation will view a good Muslim as terrible and a bad Muslim as good.

Repercussions of the Absence of National Constants on State Governance and National Security: Case Study of Sudan

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:31:00 GMT

This paper deals with one of the most important issues that has plagued Sudan since its independence in 1956, namely the absence of national constants in political practices that paralyzed state institutions, which became a threat to Sudan's national security and a strong barrier to the renaissance of the Sudanese state politically, socially and institutionally. The study seeks to define the concept of national constants and the principles of state management in the first place, and then looks at the Sudanese experience, attempting to frame the effects of political practices on the structure of the Sudanese state in the absence of national constants that govern and regulate these political practices. It also evaluates the impact of these political practices on Sudanese national security, attempting to draw a future vision and a simplified roadmap to address these negative effects in the direction of crystallizing a new political culture that takes into account Sudanese national interests and adheres to national constants.

Recognizing Grand Strategy: The Case of Vladimir Putin (2000-2023)

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:32:00 GMT

This research explores the trends in Moscow’s diplomacy in relation to its overall strategy. In this context, it aims to investigate the evolution and construction of Vladimir Putin’s grand strategy between 2000 and 2023. To accomplish this, the article utilizes computer-assisted data analysis, specifically computer-aided thematic analysis (Atlas.ti). Hereby, 577 official speech transcripts were analyzed. To this end, the speeches under the categories of “Addresses to the Federal Assembly” and “Statements on Major Issues” have been collected to reveal the strategic logic behind Russian actions and behavior. The findings reveal that Putin’s grand strategy revolves around making Russia a center of influence and achieving a global power status, which this study conceptualizes as the “Glory to the Motherland.” In this context, reclaiming deserved status, counterbalancing Western hegemony, inventing multipolarity, and the security and preservation of the sphere of influence of the fatherland surfaced as the focuses for reversing Russia’s weakness experienced during the 1990s.

Redefining Genocide in Gaza: A Crime Without a Name?

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:34:00 GMT

Since October 7, 2023, over 70,000 people have been killed in Gaza, and factoring in indirect deaths, the total mortality as of July 2024 has been estimated at 186,000 by analyses published in The Lancet.

I’m Here to Ask for Your Vote: How Presidential Campaign Visits Influence Voters

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:37:00 GMT

Drawing on U.S. elections from 2008 to 2020, Christopher Devine, an associate professor of political science at the University of Dayton, explores the historical development, strategic significance, and electoral consequences of face-to-face campaign visits.

Sector-Based Action against Corruption: A Guide for Organisations and Professionals

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:39:00 GMT

Unlike many anti-corruption works that focus on national or transnational reforms, this book emphasizes sector-specific and organizational efforts.

Islam in Global Modernity: Sociological Theory and the Diversity of Islamic Modernities

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:40:00 GMT

Islamic Modernities presents an intellectual attempt to rethink the entangled relationship between Islam and modernity from a sociological perspective.

Until We Have Won Our Liberty: South Africa after Apartheid

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:42:00 GMT

Post-apartheid South Africa’s political transformation has been studied in a broad spectrum. Though often credited as a miracle, the course and quality of South African democracy have remained a contested issue.

Cultural Change in Post-Migrant Societies: Re-Imagining Communities through Arts and Cultural Activities

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:44:00 GMT

The book’s focus is on migrants enacting within structures that emerged from nation-building, and on how people socialized in these structures are confronted with migrants, through a cultural change lens.