Analysis

In-Depth Analysis

Smart, independent reporting on Turkey's politics, economy and foreign affairs.

All Inside Turkey Foreign Affairs Economy and Finance Security and Defense Deep Dive Media & Culture Media, Internet and Culture Deciphering Turkish Diplomacy Portrait of the Week Word of the Week Guest Voices Capital Currents Erospolis The Third Desk Poetic Licence
ERDOĞAN AND MITSOTAKIS TO MEET IN BID TO MANAGE, NOT RESOLVE, DIFFERENCES
Guest Voices Feb 9, 2026

ERDOĞAN AND MITSOTAKIS TO MEET IN BID TO MANAGE, NOT RESOLVE, DIFFERENCES

The planned meeting of the Turkish–Greek High-Level Cooperation Council (HLC) in Ankara on February 11 comes when the calm in relations between Ankara and Athens conceals numerous fragilities. That’s just one reason why the meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is unlikely to produce a breakthrough. Rather, the meeting aims to keep communication channels open while both sides pursue sharply divergent agendas in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.

Guest Voices
ADANA MAYOR FREED AS LEGAL CASES AGAINST CHP CONTINUE
Inside Turkey Feb 6, 2026

ADANA MAYOR FREED AS LEGAL CASES AGAINST CHP CONTINUE

Legal pressure on the main opposition CHP continued as allegations of drug use were expanded to include relatives of Ekrem İmamoğlu’s wife, while prosecutors finalized a separate “political espionage” indictment against the imprisoned presidential candidate. At the same time, an Istanbul court ordered the release of a high-profile mayor held on corruption charges, marking a notable shift in the broader judicial process. As a significant development in the ongoing corruption trials, the court ordered the release of Adana Mayor Zeydan Karalar, who had been in detention since July. Karalar became the first CHP mayor to be freed since the start of the Aziz İhsan Aktaş case on Jan. 27. Eight other employees of several municipalities were also released.

Editorial Team
WHY TURKEY IS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE-INCOME TRAP
Guest Voices Jan 22, 2026

WHY TURKEY IS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE-INCOME TRAP

At the turn of the year, a familiar ritual repeats itself in Turkey. Gyms raise their membership fees. Tradespeople adjust their prices. Real estate agents pocket higher commissions by systematically pushing up sale prices. Hardly anyone objects. Hardly anyone asks what added value is being offered. Price hikes are taken for granted — not because products have improved, but because inflation exists.

Guest Voices
SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS IN PARLIAMENT
Inside Turkey Dec 12, 2025

SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS IN PARLIAMENT

Allegations that vocational high school students interning at the Parliament cafeteria were sexually abused by staff have sparked public outrage. The scandal surfaced after a 16-year-old intern reported the abuse and presented incriminating messages to law enforcement.

Editorial Team
ANKARA LEADS IN CREDIT DEBT, KARAMAN TOPS IN UNPAID LOANS
Economy and Finance Nov 7, 2025

ANKARA LEADS IN CREDIT DEBT, KARAMAN TOPS IN UNPAID LOANS

Turkey’s Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) released new data covering the first nine months of 2025, revealing the country’s debt landscape by province. The capital, Ankara, recorded the highest total credit debt, while the central Anatolian province of Karaman had the largest share of citizens unable to repay their loans and facing collection proceedings.

Editorial Team
IS AKP PUTTING THE LAST NAIL IN HAMAS’ COFFIN?
Deciphering Turkish Diplomacy Oct 10, 2025

IS AKP PUTTING THE LAST NAIL IN HAMAS’ COFFIN?

When the AKP came to power it had to prove to the outside world that it was not an Islamist party. The way to convince Western capitals went through luring in Israel and the Jewish lobby. By 2008, the party had consolidated power internally and received a high degree of acceptance from the Western capitals, which led to overconfidence. When the Arab Spring began, the AKP did not have to hide its true ideological leaning. Convinced that the moment for political Islam had finally come, the AKPs ruling elites did not hide their ambition to lead Muslim Brotherhood to power in Middle Eastern countries.

Barçın Yinanç
CASE AGAINST TOP BUSINESS EXECUTIVES POSTPONED
Economy and Finance Sep 26, 2025

CASE AGAINST TOP BUSINESS EXECUTIVES POSTPONED

No decision was reached at the second hearing of the case against two leaders of the top business group TÜSİAD for comments they made in speeches. In court, Orhan Turan, chair of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TÜSİAD), and Ömer Arif Aras, Chair of the High Advisory Council (YİK), denied the charges against them and requested acquittal.

Editorial Team