Western Anatolia: Agroecological Knowledge Systems in Practice Published: 25 February 2025 Background Knowledge about how to farm is never static, it shifts with changing realities. In the Anatolian village of Karagömlek, rural depopulation and industrial inputs reshape local farming. This article explores, why Agroecology offers a critical perspective for the future. By Simon Popay
One year since earthquakes hit Turkey, refugees are in an even deeper hole Published: 5 February 2024 Background It has been a year since the February 6th earthquakes ripped through southern Turkey and northern Syria. The 7.8 magnitude quake and several tremors directly affected more than 9.1 million people in Turkey, among them 1.7 million Syrian and numerous other refugees. The next day found the country shaken by a wave of anti-refugee policies and rhetoric never seen before. What is the situation today in Turkey, which continues to be the world’s largest refugee-hosting country? By Joshua Levkowitz
Women don’t feel safe in earthquake housing in Diyarbakır outskirts Published: 16 January 2024 Background Interview with Hamide Ayaz, whose house collapsed in the conflicts in Sur, Sociologist Mihriban İlbaş, and Selma Aslan, Co-Chair of the Diyarbakır Branch of the Chamber of Architects, about the earthquake houses undertaken by TOKİ and their impact on women's lives. By Evrim Deniz
Shadow Conflicts in the Aegean Published: 18 August 2022 Analysis While the world's attention is focused on the war in Ukraine, the next conflict at the EU's external border is already brewing in the eastern Aegean. Often overlooked: the tensions between Greece and Turkey are neither new, nor politically irrational. By Seçkin Söylemez
Veiled Bodies of Muslim Nonnormative Sexualities: Notes from a Youth Ethnography in Turkey Published: 1 December 2021 The veiling experiences of two LGBTI+ women in Turkey open questions about the discursive constructions of femininity, masculinity, piousness, LGBTI+ secularity, and how these are used in political rhetoric. By Zeynep Kuyumcu
Political homophobia and the making of a rainbow criminal in Turkey Published: 1 December 2021 In the past months, Turkey has prosecuted students who have displayed rainbow flags in Istanbul, indicating a pattern of state-induced political homophobia and violence against marginalized groups, together with the motivation to delegitimize the political opposition in Turkey and elsewhere. By Tunay Altay
Friend or foe? Redefining Turkey's Afghanistan Policy Outside NATO Published: 20 August 2021 Analysis Turkish President Erdogan, usually a friend of many and often harsh words, needed almost a week before he took a stand on the Taliban takeover in Kabul. By Kristian Brakel
Strategic sovereignty in the EU’s Southeastern neighborhood: The Black Sea as part of a larger geopolitical region Published: 27 January 2021 Analysis As part of a larger geopolitical region, the Wider Black Sea requires greater commitment from the EU in the areas of security, renewable energy, and connectivity. Turkey and Russia are the key competitors for influence and resources in the region. By Dr. Stefan Meister
Precarious peace – Nagorno-Karabakh after the ceasefire agreement Published: 23 November 2020 Analysis The new ceasefire agreement negotiated between Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan has grave geopolitical and domestic consequences for the South Caucasus states. Stefan Meister, Director of the Heinrich Böll Foundation South Caucasus, explains 10 consequences of the agreement. By Dr. Stefan Meister
Is there a solution to the Aegean dispute? Published: 9 September 2020 Background The disputes over the Aegean Sea clearly constitute the “core” of Greek-Turkish relations. Each side claims to be exclusively in the right, and that the other side is always being provocative and in the wrong. By Thodoros Tsikas
War in Syria: The horror of Idlib Published: 26 February 2020 Comment The recent escalation of violence in Idlib is also a result of the increasing tensions between Turkey and Russia. The victims are those in Idlib, caught up in a hopeless situation amid a huge spectrum of differing interests. By Bente Scheller
Violence against women in Turkey: "Looking where others look away" Published: 2 November 2017 Interview Up to five women are murdered every day in Turkey. Photographer Emine Akbaba collected evidence videos and took photos of the sites of crime. As for herself, she says that she is no longer sure how to come to terms with everything she has seen. By Valerie-Siba Rousparast
Turkey-EU refugee deal: the Turkish public opinion dimension Published: 26 May 2016 Turkey is hosting some 2.7 million Syrian refugees. Only one tenth are in camps and the rest spread around urban areas. Local cultural and religious affinity with them has kept social friction low. By Ilke Toygür
The AKP’s Big Comeback - Turkey Turns Back Time Published: 6 November 2015 The AKP has gained the absolute majority in Turkey’s recent snap elections, allowing it to continue to rule without a coalition partner. Deep rifts within Turkish society, however, remain. A take on the elections by Kristian Brakel, office director in Istanbul. By Kristian Brakel
Turkey’s Newest Party: Understanding the HDP Published: 27 October 2015 For the last 30 years, the Kurdish movement has given birth to a myriad of organisations. Its newest offspring is the Democratic Peoples’ Party (HDP – Halkların Demokratik Partisi) that received more than six million (13.12%) votes (80 seats) in the last election. With new elections looming in November 2015 and new clashes flaring up between the Turkish government and the PKK, the HDP’s future hangs in the balance as well.
The Dynamics of the Queer Movement in Turkey Published: 28 September 2015 The Gezi protests have energized the LGBTIQ movement in Turkey, giving it a sustainable boost. The history of the movement, however, began at the start of the last century at the latest. By Zülfukar Çetin
“Modernity means more than having several luxurious shopping malls” Published: 31 August 2015 Turkey is undergoing a period of turmoil. An interview with Kristian Brakel, office director of Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Turkey, about the recently announced snap elections, chances for reviving the peace process with the Kurdish PKK, and U.S.-Turkish cooperation in fighting the Islamic State. By Kristian Brakel
Istanbul Office - Turkey Published: 15 June 2015 Our main focus points are the promotion of democratic reform within Turkey, the future of Turkish energy policy, and the development of rural regions.
On the Run in Their Own Country Published: 5 January 2015 More than six million Syrian refugees are in search of a different, a safer place in their home country and yet only arrive at places that are currently slightly less ghastly. By Bente Scheller
Tracing the Deep State Published: 12 July 2012 The idea of the existence of an illegal "state within the state" system is widespread within Turkey. There have been many attempts to prove and juristically contain this "deep state", but it seems like instead of searching for it in hidden places, one should look for it within the structures of the legal state. By Ayflegül Sabuktay