Insight Turkey Publishes Its Latest Issue “Changing Regional Dynamics”

This issue of Insight Turkey covers a wide range of topics while providing an insightful analysis of regional developments, with a particular focus on the Middle East, with pieces on the recent protests in Iran, the political instability in Iraq, COVID-19 impact on Palestinians, and the EU. Additionally, our last issue of 2022 includes insightful pieces on energy rivalry in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Our look at the region starts with Hakkı Uygur’s timely thoughts on the recent protests and violence in Iran after Mahsa Amini died. In the same context, Mahjoob Zweiri’s research article provides insight into defining Rouhani’s foreign policy discourse and slogans while addressing significant shifts in the region that implicated Iran’s Rouhani stance towards the GCC and its members.

Our focus on the region continues with Mohammed Muazaz al-Hadithy’s analysis of the role of the Gulf in Iraq after 2017 based on the complicated relationship between the Gulf and Iraq from 2003 to 2017. Following this, Ghazi Alsikoty’s commentary attempts to present and analyze the chaotic nature of Iraq’s constitutional system since 2005 and its impact on political-economic and social crises.

In the following article, Yusri Hazran analyzes Israel’s strategic stance toward the Syrian crisis, drawing connections between Israel’s historical understanding of Syria, its role in the Arab-Israeli conflict, and current strategic considerations. Next, the article by Yousef M. Aljamal, Ilise Benshushan Cohen, and Philipp O. Amour looks at the early spread of COVID-19 in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in the context of nationalism and sovereignty and how the pandemic awoke Palestinian national sentiment. With the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, in our final commentary, the focus shifts to the EU area, with Saddam A. H. Obaid and Aishah Hanifa providing a topical commentary on whether or not national interests will prevail over the liberal values of the EU during the crises.

Dilek Latif and Nusret Sinan Evcan’s timely analysis seeks to contextualize the EU’s engagement in the Eastern Mediterranean region in light of recent developments and political factors. Meanwhile, Fatma Aslı Kelkitli investigates and contrasts the foreign policy choices of three minor Central Asian governments, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, in the post-independence period. In the concluding research article, Abdurrahman Gümüş analyzes the changes and continuities in Turkish foreign policy.

With one more year coming to an end, we are pleased to present to our readers yet another insightful issue of Insight Turkey that has attempted to analyze current regional and international developments comprehensively. We are looking forward to providing you with more next year.