Political Economy in the Name of Erdoğan

The failed coup attempt against President Erdoğan shook Turkish society and accelerated Erdoğan’s concentration of power. The Turkish economy also suffered a shock, with the lira dropping in value, a flight of foreign investment, and an increase in inflation. The tension between Ankara and the West continues to mount, adding to the country’s economic uncertainty. In anticipation of the 2019 elections, the opposition parties hope the economic issue will adversely affect the Justice and Development Party. However, Turkey's domestic consumption and growing exports have produced a challenging but stable economic picture that should benefit Erdoğan.

Why the International Community Should Follow Trump’s Lead on Jerusalem

Arab and Muslim leaders hope to stoke sufficient anxiety among world leaders to stop them from following President Trump’s lead in recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. In effect, they hope to ensure that Muslim threats are given veto power over the decisions by world powers on this matter. But the objections to recognition are specious, ahistorical, and hypocritical. All countries should reject Muslim revisionism and join Trump in his action – which is, after all, simply acknowledging a 3,000-years-long reality.

Israeli and NATO Navies Ramp Up Ties

While most naval fleets spend the bulk of their time conducting international missions, the Israeli Navy is on operational duty against enemies every day. There is much NATO fleets can learn from the Israeli Navy and vice versa. With that in mind, Israel is now being invited to take part in NATO naval drills and is developing warm maritime partnerships with NATO countries.

Is the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict the “Middle East Conflict”?

Is the Israel-Palestinian conflict equivalent to “the Middle East conflict,” as UN and EU officials and agencies and major media outlets characterize it? Of course not. The conflict is not nearly as lethal as many others and long ago became parochial compared to the conflicts in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.

Transition in the Middle East: Transition to What?

Transition is the name of the game in the Middle East and North Africa. The question is, transition to what? The answer to that question lies in an Arab autocratic push for a Saudi-led regional order that would be based on an upgraded, 21st century version of autocracy designed to fortify absolute rule. To achieve this, autocrats have embraced economic reform accompanied by social change that would allow them to efficiently deliver public goods and services. It is an approach that rejects recognition of basic freedoms and political rights, but is likely – eventually – to produce more open and inclusive political systems that ensure that all segments of society have a stake.

Syria’s Sunni Arabs and Israel: The War’s Silver Lining?

The war in Syria has resulted in many changes to its society, including a perceptible shift in the Sunni Arab majority's attitude towards Israel. However, that shift remains very limited in scope. Much still needs to be done on both sides of the border to root out the Syrian culture of anti-Semitism.

Trump’s Recognition of Jerusalem: Enough with Dread and Circuses

The Israeli-Palestinian “peace process” is strictly a two-party affair. It cannot and will not succeed if the OIC-57 and the G-77 continue to collude towards pitting the UN perpetually against Israel. Reminding the world in no uncertain terms of the fact that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital invites doubters and deniers to come to their senses at last and start negotiating in realistic terms – if “a just and durable peace for all” is, in fact, what the Islamic countries and their allies are after.

Macron’s Presidency Heralds Nothing New in Israel-France Relations

Emmanuel Macron’s presidency heralds no new era in Israel-France relations, particularly on issues relating to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Like other French presidents before him, he condemns Palestinian terrorism and Israeli settlements in the West Bank as if they are moral equivalents. His response to US President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital was to reassert the traditional French subscription to the two-state solution and to stress that Paris does not approve of the American move.

North Korea’s Missile Program

North Korea's missile program demonstrates Pyongyang's ability to build a reliable deterrence capability against the US – but the program requires a huge budget. Pyongyang should be able to fund the industry in the short term, but sanctions and costs might eventually force it either to look for new income sources or to offer tactical concessions.

Why Does the Average Turk Love Erdoğan?

A quick glance at Turkey’s facts and figures helps to explain why the Turks love their leader, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. There are striking parallels between the political sociology of the average Turkish voter and Erdoğan’s Islamist worldview. In a way, Erdoğan is what the average Turk sees when he looks in the mirror.

Perspectives Papers