BARÇIN YİNANÇ

Hagia Sophia and the Alliance of Civilizations BARÇIN YİNANÇ

Hagia Sophia and the Alliance of Civilizations

When Spain and Turkey became co-sponsors of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations to explore the roots of polarization between societies and cultures in 2005, Spain didn’t pose as a representative of Christianity, and Turkey didn’t post as a representative of Islam. Spain was under a Socialist government which traditionally cares and values the country’s Islamic heritage, as the country remained under Muslim rule for 800 years.

July 20 2020
Turkish youth and the government’s stance on social media BARÇIN YİNANÇ

Turkish youth and the government’s stance on social media

“When the COVID-19 pandemic is over would you download an app developed by the state that has access to your everyday movement, in order to ensure your medical well-being and security?”

July 08 2020
What’s next Withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention BARÇIN YİNANÇ

What’s next? Withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention?

When the government launched an initiative to implement a “multi-bar” system, which many believe aims to erode the strength of bars in Turkey, some Justice and Development Party (AK Party) members criticized the move in their informal talks with journalists. “It was unrealistic, unfeasible,” according to some. News appeared that some AK Party deputies as well as deputies from its ally, the National Movement Party (MHP), opposed the multi-bar system. Even Mehmet Barlas, a pro-government columnist, criticized the proposed amendment.

July 06 2020
Turkish diaspora: How to turn a brain drain into brain gain BARÇIN YİNANÇ

Turkish diaspora: How to turn a brain drain into brain gain

When you log onto Linkedln and enter the key words “Turkish” and a European city, you might come across hundreds of Turks working in international companies of different sizes.

July 01 2020
Physical proximity not enough to boost trade with EU BARÇIN YİNANÇ

Physical proximity not enough to boost trade with EU

Proximity will be a key word in the post-pandemic world, as well as glocalization.

June 29 2020
East Med ‘a lab for Turkey’s exploration activities’ BARÇIN YİNANÇ

East Med ‘a lab for Turkey’s exploration activities’

Istanbul’s Kadir Has University has for the past four years been conducting a public opinion poll to understand the Turkish society’s energy preferences. The last one conducted last December was made public on June 24.

June 24 2020
EU law accepted again as separate discipline in Turkish universities BARÇIN YİNANÇ

EU law accepted again as separate discipline in Turkish universities

Nowadays, something rarely positive happens in Turkish-EU relations. That’s why, when news broke last Friday, a wave of joy spread in the WhatsApp group of the Turkey branch of Women in Foreign Policy (WFP) initiative.

June 22 2020
In Turkey’s COVID-19 fight, the credit goes to... BARÇIN YİNANÇ

In Turkey’s COVID-19 fight, the credit goes to...

My sister is a doctor. If I need medical advice, she might be the last person I call. She might return my call after I have given my last breath. Patients come first, even when off duty. That’s the type of dedication you can see in the overwhelming majority of doctors in Turkey.

May 27 2020
Turkeys projection of hard power BARÇIN YİNANÇ

Turkey's projection of hard power

Only a decade ago Turkey’s envoy to the U.S. was knocking on doors in Washington to purchase drones, only to find the doors shut in his face.

May 20 2020