PAST EVENT
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Washington, DC
On May 8, the Center for the United States and Europe at Brookings (CUSE) will host R. Nicholas Burns, former under secretary of state for political affairs, for the fourth annual Sakıp Sabancı Lecture. Ambassador Burns will focus his address on the future of U.S.-Turkish relations. Read More
PAST EVENT
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Washington, DC
Nine months after its landslide election victory, Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) is once again in the midst of a major political struggle with the country’s secular establishment. In March, Turkey's chief prosecutor petitioned the country’s constitutional court for the closure of the AKP on the grounds of “anti-secular” activities. On April 17, the Center on the United States on Europe (CUSE) at Brookings will host a panel discussion to examine the legal and political dynamics behind the case against the AKP. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Omer Taspinar, April 14, 2008, Today's Zaman
Omer Taspinar notes that Turkey is again going through a difficult time internally and externally. Once declared a model of the Islamic World by the U.S., the country now finds itself trying to "find a balance between Islam, secularism and Western identity," which has recently seemed totally elusive. Read More
PAST EVENT
Friday, April 11, 2008
Washington, DC
On April 11, the Center on the United States and Europe (CUSE) at Brookings welcomed Turkish Minister of State Mehmet Simsek for an address on the Turkish economy. Read More
PAST EVENT
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Washington, DC
On March 20, the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings (CUSE) hosted a panel discussion to assess Turkey’s Kurdish conundrum, specifically Turkish-Iraqi-American relations and options for confronting the PKK. Speakers included Hasan Cemal, senior columnist for the Turkish daily newspaper Milliyet; O. Faruk Logoglu, President of the Eurasian Strategic Studies Center; and Aliza Marcus, Bloomberg News reporter and author of Blood and Belief: The PKK and the Kurdish Fight for Independence. Brookings Nonresident Fellow and Director of the Turkey Project Omer Taspinar provided introductory remarks and moderated the discussion. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Justin Vaisse, March 19, 2008, Mediapart.fr
Justin Vaisse discusses the upcoming French presidency of the European Union. (French) Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Elizabeth Ferris and Kimberly Stoltz, March 03, 2008, New Security Developments and Displacements in Iraq Series
Often described as the next "powder keg" in Iraq, the issue of Kirkuk's status has gripped the nation, its neighbors, and the international community. This referendum is significant because it is linked both to Iraq's past and the future of the "new" Iraq. As Brookings expert Elizabeth Ferris and Kimberly Stoltz argue, failing to reconcile the competing interests and property claims in, not only Kirkuk but also other disputed territories, could lead to further destruction and chaos in Iraq. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael E. O'Hanlon and Omer Taspinar, February 09, 2008, The Washington Post
Michael O'Hanlon and Omer Taspinar believe Iraq's Kurds face crucial choices. They can attain a remarkable future by compromising, forming regional partnerships and strengthening their bond with the United States. Or they can continue to pursue their own agenda that may ultimately destabilize the broader region. Read More
PAST EVENT
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Washington, DC
On January 31, Brookings hosted its final panel discussion with some leading Turkish experts to assess the Bush Administration’s impact on U.S.-Turkish relations, and what lessons can be drawn from this often tumultuous period. Speakers included two members of Turkish Parliament: former Ambassador Gunduz Aktan (MHP) and Dr. Suat Kiniklioglu (AKP); and former Turkish Foreign Minister Emre Gonensay. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Justin Vaisse, January 28, 2008, The Brookings Institution
The election of Nicolas Sarkozy brought with it new challenges for French-Turkish relations. Justin Vaisse explores these challenges and offers ideas for both sides to resolve their issues with one another. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Omer Taspinar, January 07, 2008, Today's Zaman
Omer Taspinar discusses the recently mended U.S.-Turkish relationship and what both countries will seek in future bilateral talks. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Johannes F. Linn, November 29, 2007, The Brookings Institution
Central Asia, once viewed as the backyard of the Soviet Union, is now Eurasia's hub of economic integration. Johannes Linn, Brookings Scholar and Special Adviser to the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program (CAREC), explains what a recent spate of high-level meetings mean for the future of Central Asia, Eurasia and the rest of the world. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Omer Taspinar, November 05, 2007, Today's Zaman
Omer Taspinar discusses why the current U.S. strategy on the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is flawed and what should be done to fix the problem. Taspinar argues a U.S. pre-emptive strike on the PKK would continue to harbor and strengthen the terrorist organzation, and that multilaterism and analysis of domestic dynamics must be used instead. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael E. O'Hanlon and Edward P. Joseph, November 02, 2007, The Wall Street Journal
Michael O'Hanlon and Edward Joseph discuss U.S. diplomacy strategy for upcoming meetings with Turkish officials. O'Hanlon and Joseph argue while the Kurdish rebel attacks should be part of the dialouge, the U.S. should look beyond "crisis management" to deal with broader Turkish issues including the managing the PKK, granting the city of Kirkuk a special status, and achieving an oil deal between the Kurdish and Iraqi people. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Omer Taspinar, November/December 2007, Foreign Affairs
Omer Taspinar argues that "the real challenge for Turkey will be to maintain a working democracy by keeping the military out of politics." Read More