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Arife Köse, a PhD researcher at the University of East Anglia, joined Turkey recap editor Diego Cupolo to discuss the crackdown on Turkey's opposition, the Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) response and what comes next.They covered the CHP’s extraordinary congress on Sept. 21 and CHP Chair Özgür Özel’s mandate in the face of ongoing judicial pressure that has seen hundreds of party members investigated and/or jailed this year.Köse also outlined how the Turkish government has moved from designing electoral competition to designing the opposition, in general.Also referenced in this talk:Embattled Turkey opposition re-elects leader at party congress (AFP)Turkey: Erdogan rival Imamoğlu stands trial (DW)Trump says to host Turkey's Erdogan at White House on Sept. 25 (Reuters)Other ways to watch & listen:Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: info@turkeyrecap.com.Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorGünsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondent This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Wolfango Piccoli, co-president of political risk advisory services at Teneo, joined Turkey recap editor Diego Cupolo to discuss Turkey’s economy, how markets approach political risk and what the government is doing (or not) to stem years of high inflation.Piccoli covered investor sentiments towards Turkey, the implications of the ongoing crackdown on the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and what all that means for Turkey’s economic trajectory, both domestically and in international trade relations.They also discussed the sustainability of the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) development model as well as high food and rent inflation, which is increasingly felt by Turkish citizens as they lose purchasing power.Also referenced in this talk:Consumer Price Index, August 2025 (TÜIK)Türkiye Releases 2025-2027 Medium-Term Program (Investment and Finance Office)Turkish markets rally as key opposition ruling delayed (Reuters)Turkey's market rout worsens amid protests, worst stock slump since 2008 (Reuters)Other ways to watch & listen:Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: info@turkeyrecap.com.Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorGünsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondent This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Gönül Tol, director of the Turkey Program at the Middle East Institute, joined Turkey recap editor Diego Cupolo to discuss Turkey’s democratic backsliding, the PKK peace process and Ankara’s Syria policy.This podcast was recorded shortly after a court-appointed trustee took over the leadership of the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) Istanbul provincial headquarters amid wide-spanning corruption investigations into the party.Tol covered the CHP’s response to date, what recent developments mean for democratic elections in Turkey and how peace negotiations with the PKK impact both domestic and foreign policy, with a focus on SDF-Damascus talks in Syria.Also referenced in this talk:Don’t Trust Erdogan’s ‘Peace Process’ With the Kurds (Foreign Policy)Erdoğan’s War: A Strongman’s Struggle at Home and in Syria (Oxford University Press)Other ways to watch & listen:Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: info@turkeyrecap.com.Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorGünsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondent This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Neslihan Çevik, a sociologist, former politician, consultant and non-resident fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia, joined Turkey recap editor Diego Cupolo to discuss falling fertility rates in Turkey.Çevik expanded on the ideas she outlined in a recent commentary for the National News, titled “This is what the Muslim world needs to do to boost its birth rate”. Using examples from Turkey, the Middle East and other regions, Çevik argued marriage norms and expectations play a larger role in determining birth rates than other more commonly cited – and more polarizing – theories.Also referenced in this talk:Birth Statistics, 2023 (TurkStat)Statistics on Child, 2024 (TurkStat)Dependency and depopulation? Confronting the consequences of a new demographic reality (McKinsey. & Company)Other ways to watch & listen:Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: info@turkeyrecap.com.Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorGünsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondent This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Long-time journalist Andrew Finkel joined Turkey recap editor Diego Cupolo to discuss media culture and media capture in Turkey under the Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.Having contributed to both international and Turkish media outlets, Finkel has a unique perspective on news in Turkey. He witnessed the transformation of mainstream media from the 1990s till the present day, in which about 90 percent of the sector is pro-government or owned by government-friendly companies.In this episode, we cover the AKP’s consolidation of mainstream media, what that means for people following news about Turkey, and we connect those trends with the current state of free speech and politics in Turkey … possibly, providing examples or warnings for countries experiencing similar threats to free speech, like the US.Finkel is also co-founder of P24, a non-profit platform for independent journalism and free expression in Turkey, and author of the book: “The Adventure of the Second Wife: The Strange Case of Abdülahamid and Sherlock Holmes”.Also referenced in this talk:The Crack in Everything (P24)Tales from the Turkish newsroom: Why Newspapers Sometimes Lie (Anglo-Turkish Society)Turkey: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford University Press)Other ways to watch & listen:Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: info@turkeyrecap.com.Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorGünsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondent This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Mohammed A. Salih, a non-resident senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and analyst of Kurdish affairs, joined Turkey recap editor-in-chief Diego Cupolo to discuss developments in Syria and how they may factor into the Turkey-PKK peace process.Salih covered recent clashes in southern Syria between Bedouin and Druze groups, which left more than 1,400 dead. He also discussed how recent instability in Syria is viewed by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which has been engaging the central government in Damascus on integration efforts.Implications for Ankara are included throughout with considerations on regional actors, such as the United States, Israel, Iran and Iraq.Also referenced in this talk:Blood in Suwayda: How Sharaa is further alienating Syria’s minorities (The New Region)Unlikely Alliances and Confrontations: Türkiye, Israel, and Iran in post-Assad Syria (New Lines Institute)GeoSpace Ep. 9 with Joshua Landis: Minorities and centralization in post-Suwayda Syria (The New Region)Your Commission, Should You Choose To Accept It (Turkey recap)Other ways to watch & listen:Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: info@turkeyrecap.com.Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorGünsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondent This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Independent researcher Nareg Seferian joined Turkey recap editor-in-chief Diego Cupolo to discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks and their implications for the region.They covered the July 10 meeting between Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani Pres. Ilham Aliyev in Abu Dhabi and their efforts to finalize a peace agreement in the aftermath of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War.The peace talks will not only impact Eurasian energy and trade – through projects like the Zangezur corridor – but could also revive stalled normalization efforts between Turkey and Armenia.All of the above has repercussions for the balance of power in the South Caucasus, where Russia, Iran, the European Union and the United States compete for influence.Also referenced in this talk:Nareg Seferian’s websiteUS Management of the Zangezur Corridor In The Caucasus? Iran Won't Like It. (RFERL)The Joint Declaration following the First European Union-Central Asia SummitTurkish MFA statement regarding Turkey-Armenia normalizationOther ways to watch & listen:Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: info@turkeyrecap.com.Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorGünsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondent This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Turkey recap editor-in-chief Diego Cupolo spoke with Lisel Hintz, assistant professor of International Relations at Johns Hopkins University SAIS and author of the book: “Identity Politics Inside Out: National Identity Contestation and Foreign Policy in Turkey.”They discussed how narratives in pro-government media aim to create cultural and political hegemony in Turkey under Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP).Topics covered include the PKK peace process, ongoing judicial pressure on the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the AKP’s grand strategy for the so-called ‘New Turkey’.Also referenced in this talk:Published article: "Cooking Shows as Conservative Gender Edutainment in Authoritarian Regimes: Recipe for (New) Turkey," in Politics & Gender.Forthcoming article co-authored with Jonas Bergan Draege: "Film-Making the Nation Great Again: Audio-Visualizing History in the Authoritarian Toolkit" in Perspectives on Politics.Other ways to watch & listen: Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: info@turkeyrecap.com.Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorGünsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondent This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Today, Turkey recap editor-in-chief Diego Cupolo spoke with Gallia Lindenstrauss, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies, an independent think tank affiliated with Tel Aviv University in Israel.They discussed Israel-Turkey relations through the lens of the Israel-Iran war, developments in Syria, the PKK peace process, the Gaza war, Hamas and more.In addition, the talk covered the meaning of Turkish Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s oft-repeated phrase "The world is bigger than five" and how the Israeli government sees the nation’s future in a multipolar world.Referenced in this talk:“Iran was battered by Israel and US, but its regime is intact as Iranians rally around flag, says Vali Nasr” (Al-Monitor)“A Fairer World is Possible” by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan“The World After Gaza” by Pankaj MishraOther ways to watch & listen: Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: info@turkeyrecap.com.Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorGünsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondent This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Today, we spoke with Aaron Stein, president of the US-based Foreign Policy Research Institute and author of the book: “US War Against ISIS: How America and its Allies Defeated the Caliphate”.Topics covered include Iran, Israel, the US and Turkey’s place in the conflict now unfolding on NATO’s eastern border. We also discussed the potential implications of the Syria transition and the Turkey-PKK peace process on Ankara-Washington relations.And, of course, we addressed the many security architecture questions regarding Turkey’s weapons industry, European defense needs and the prospects for Ankara’s return to the F-35 fighter jet program.Reports referenced in this talk include:“The Time is Right to Sell F-35 to Turkey” by Aaron Stein“Turkey’s New Foreign Policy: Ankara’s Ambitions, Regional Responses, and Implications for the United States” by Aaron Stein and Nicholas DanforthOther ways to watch & listen: Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: info@turkeyrecap.com.Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorGünsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondent This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Here’s our live webcast with Berk Esen, an associate professor of political science at Sabancı University in İstanbul and co-author of the book, Türkiye'nin Yeni Rejimi: Rekabetçi Otoriterlik.We discussed the mounting trials faced by Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), including investigations against imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, who faces a political ban for corruption charges that he denies.We also covered the CHP Congress case, which could lead to government intervention on the management structure of Turkey’s founding party, raising questions about the future of Özgür Özel’s leadership, the potential return of former chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the health of Turkish democracy.Other ways to watch & listen: Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: info@turkeyrecap.com.Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorGünsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondent This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Watch our live webcast with Alexander McKeever, a researcher based in Amman, Jordan, and author of the newsletter This Week in Northern Syria.We discussed developments in Syria six months after regime change and took questions from the audience.Topics covered include SDF-Damascus negotiations, domestic security, repatriation and internal migration, impacts of the Turkey-PKK peace process and the influence of foreign actors, such as the United States, Israel, Russia, the Gulf states and more.Other ways to watch & listen: Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or where ever you get your podcasts.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: info@turkeyrecap.com.Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorGünsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondent This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Watch our live webcast with Ezgi Başaran, author of the book Frontline Turkey: The Conflict at the Heart of the Middle East and the newsletter Angle, Anchor, and Voice.We put the Turkey-PKK peace process in context and discussed what to expect next. We also took audience questions.Other ways to watch & listen:1. Visit turkeyrecap.com or the Substack app2. Make sure you are logged in and subscribe to Turkey recap3. Check our Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTubeTurkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: info@turkeyrecap.com.Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for a student discount). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorGünsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondent This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Watch our live webcast with Selim Koru, writer of Kültürkampf and author of the book New Turkey and the Far Right, and Diego Cupolo, editor-in-chief of Turkey recap.We discussed the PKK’s decision to dissolve today as well as implications for Turkey and the region. We also took audience questions, and Selim took a few delivery packages while on air.Other ways to watch & listen:1. Visit turkeyrecap.com or the Substack app2. Make sure you are logged in and subscribe to Turkey recap3. Check our Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTubeTurkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: info@turkeyrecap.com.Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for a student discount). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorGünsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondent This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Turkish Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Rome Tuesday for a Turkey-Italy intergovernmental summit, highlighting fast-developing trade and defense ties between the two NATO allies.In recent months, Turkish defense firm Baykar acquired Italy’s Piaggio Aerospace and announced a joint venture to produce drones with Italy’s defense giant, Leonardo.To make sense of bilateral relations and what they mean for European security, we hosted a livestream with the authors of the recent analysis: “Europe’s defense awakening and its strategic partners: Any place for Turkey?”The above is our recording with Riccardo Gasco, foreign policy program coordinator at the IstanPol Institute and doctoral researcher at the University of Bologna, and Samuele Abrami, a Mercator-IPC Fellow and researcher at the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs. They also host the Cose Turche News podcast with Eleonora Masi.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: info@turkeyrecap.com.Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for a student discount). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorGünsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondent This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe