As one of the few independent platforms that continue to stimulate constructive and critical debates on Turkey and its neighborhood, Turkish Policy Quarterly (TPQ) is staunchly committed to providing its readers with cutting-edge content.

As TPQ heads into its 15th year in 2016, we want to share with you an overview of the journal's activities over the year.

The TPQ team wishes you a wonderful new year!

February
TPQ Winter 2015 issue: Turkey's Democratic Challenges

Supported by the Consulate-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Istanbul, this issue took up various topics related to the state of Turkey's democracy ranging from the Kurdish peace process to social media and online censorship, and from civil society engagement to urban transformation projects.

"The AKP government is currently preparing 'internal security laws,' which would create a police state and reverse the process of democratization."
–Selahattin Demirtaş, Co-Chairman, Peoples' Democratic Party

March
TPQ Panel: Turkey's Social Media Landscape

On March 19th, TPQ held a panel discussion on the status of social media freedoms in Turkey, which was part of a larger project supported by the Consulate-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Istanbul, titled "The State of Democracy in Turkey." The event was broadcasted live online and screened at five universities around Turkey: Okan University, Yeni Yüzyıl University, Eskişehir Anadolu University, Kayseri Abdullah Gül University, and Van 100. Yıl University. 

"Even though there is currently no legislative regulation that targets social media directly, it is being controlled by an over-interpretation of the current laws in place."
– Panelist Kadri Gürsel, Columnist, Al Monitor, Diken

April
TPQ Panel: Differing Approaches on Women's Rights: "Equality" and "Justice"

On April 15th, TPQ held the second event of "The State of Democracy in Turkey" project, which took up the debate of "gender equality" and "gender justice" in the women's movement. Through a lively exchange of perspectives from both the feminist liberal camp and the conservative camp, the panel discussion fostered an open dialogue, searched for common ground on approaches to women's rights issues, and explored the youth's perception of gender rights in Turkey. This event was held at Van 100. Yıl University but was also broadcasted live online and screened at five universities around Turkey: Kadir Has University, Okan University, Kayseri Abdullah Gül University, Eskişehir Anadolu University, and Diyarbakır Dicle University.

"If you pursue justice in this unequal world, you will only manage to maintain the inequality."
– Panelist Sevgi Uçan Çubukçu, Professor, İstanbul University

May
TPQ Spring 2015 issue: Middle East Focus: Democratic Deficits & Sectarian Struggles

TPQ's Spring issue focused on the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East – exploring shifting paradigms, emerging regional axes, and entrenched conflicts. Some of the topics our authors took up included Turkey's Middle East policy, Hezbollah's role in Lebanon, Turkey-Iran relations, models for regional cooperation, and more. 

"Assad not only betrayed his own people – he has also cynically encouraged and supported extremists, with the hope that they would eliminate the democratic opposition."
–Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Turkey

September
TPQ Summer 2015 issue: Visions for Economic Sustainability at a Time of Uncertainty

TPQ's Summer issue focused on themes related to sustainable development, governance, and neighborhood relations in and around Turkey – including regional energy geopolitics/security, climate change governance, anti-corruption/transparency, and alternative societal models.

"Russia can and should remain a significant supplier of gas to Europe, but it is important that it play by the commercial rules of the game."
–Amos Hochstein, Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs, US Department of State

October
TPQ's 6th annual energy geopolitics roundtable: Regional Natural Gas Game-Changers – Securing Supplies amid Volatility

Supported by BP Turkey for the 6th year running, the roundtable discussion revolved around Southern Gas Corridor developments, the EU's diversification policies to reduce dependence on Russia, US LNG exports, and Eastern Mediterranean dynamics.

"Shah Deniz II is the anchor shipper for the Southern Gas Corridor but in no means it will be the only gas flowing through here in my view."
–Panelist Bud Fackrell, President, BP Turkey

December
TPQ Fall 2015 issue: Reconceptualizing Conflict in an Era of Hybrid Threats

Supported by NATO's Public Diplomacy Division, TPQ's Fall issue took on pressing security challenges that Turkey and its neighborhood are contending with: tense NATO-Russia relations, combating hybrid warfare, the consequences of radical Islamist ideology, and Turkey's natural gas diversification aims, among others.

"Russia's illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea marked the first time since the Second World War that one European nation took part of another by force."
–Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General, NATO

Subscribe now to receive your TPQ with 25 % discount

As the TPQ team,
we thank our corporate sponsors that
supported us in 2015!

Thanks to our partners

Address: Kadir Has Üniversitesi Cibali Kampüsü Sosyal Sorumluluk Binası ( Beyaz Ev )
Küçük Mustafa Paşa Mah. Seferikoz Sok. No:14 Kat.1 Fatih- İstanbul
Phone: +90 212 621 4442 - +90 212 621 9258 Fax: +90 212 531 8718 info@turkishpolicy.com