Turkish Development Assistance as a Foreign Policy Tool and Its Discordant Locations

Insofar as the future of Turkey’s relations with the West is concerned, the analysis of Turkish Development Aid (TDA) offers an uncertain forecast. On the one hand, the AKP has been wrapping its development assistance into anti-Western, anti-colonial rhetoric, especially when addressing the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. Yet on the other hand, it has retained Turkey’s observer status in the OECD Development Assistant Committee. This foreign policy practice of keeping feet on both sides of the West-East dichotomy helps the AKP to derive one kind of ‘concrete benefit’ from its ties with the West while seeking others by distancing itself from the West. To some degree, TDA appears to be ‘aimed at fulfilling the function of a mediator between Northern and Southern positions and players by placing itself in neither camp.’ From another angle, it looks like the AKP wants to be in the West to the degree that suits its interests.

doi:10.18449/2021WP04

EU sets out to reset Turkey Relations

Ilke Toygür of the Centre for Applied Turkey Studies tells Brent Goff that she believes the Ankara talks are an indication that the EU is moving away from the idea of Turkey joining the EU.

Top EU officials seek improved ties, positive agenda in meeting with Erdogan

Focusing on economic cooperation, migration and human rights, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council chief Charles Michel sought to improve EU-Turkey ties during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on April 6.

EU-Turkey relations: Between democracy and transactionalism

Following the European Council meeting last week which suggests a dual approach for Turkey-EU relations, William Noah Glucroft talks to Günter Seufert and Ilke Toygür about the most important issues that are confronting the EU-Turkey relations with a special focus on the next steps.

Turkey’s Presidential System after Two and a Half Years

An Overview of Institutions and Politics

doi:10.18449/2021RP02

Turkey as a partner and challenge for European Security

EU-Turkey Relations in the Aftermath of the 25 March European Council.

What lies behind Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention?

Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention is a clear attack on human rights and the rule of law. This move is part of President Erdoğan’s strategy to remain in power. Brussels should demand a reversal of the withdrawal, says Hürcan Aslı Aksoy.

Turkish-Russian Adversarial Collaboration in Syria, Libya, and Nagorno-Karabakh

doi:10.18449/2021C22

European Council report presents roadmap for EU-Turkey ties

Ahead of a European Council summit this week, a report by EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell laid out a roadmap to deepen bilateral trade despite recent setbacks in Ankara’s human rights record, while outlining economic sanctions should more turbulence arise.

How Syria’s war turned Middle East power game on its head

The conflict has had big strategic implications for Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Israel, which have emerged as the region’s main players. Hannah Lucinda Smith reports.