Sinan Ülgen is a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe in Brussels, where his research focuses on Turkish foreign policy, transatlantic relations, and international trade policy.
He is a founding partner of Istanbul Economics, a Turkish consulting firm that specializes in public and regulatory affairs, and chairman of the Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies, an independent think tank in Istanbul.
Ülgen has served in the Turkish Foreign Service in several capacities: in Ankara on the United Nations desk (1990–1992); in Brussels at the Turkish Permanent Delegation to the European Union (1992–1996); and at the Turkish embassy in Tripoli (1996).
He is a regular contributor to Turkish dailies, and his opinion pieces have been published in the International New York Times, the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Le Figaro. He was a member of the international security experts group set up by former NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen and tasked with preparing a report on the transatlantic relationship in advance of NATO’s September 2014 summit.
Ülgen is the author of Rewiring Globalisation (Carnegie Europe, 2022), Governing Cyberspace: A Road Map for Transatlantic Leadership (Carnegie Europe, 2016), Handbook of EU Negotiations (Bilgi University Press, 2005), and The European Transformation of Modern Turkey with Kemal Derviş (Centre for European Policy Studies, 2004).
With the Turkish opposition’s stunning electoral upset on Sunday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party are finally reaping the consequences of ill-considered macroeconomic policies. But the real winner of these critical local elections may be Turkish democracy.
Marc Pierini and Sinan Ülgen analyze the lead-up to the Turkish municipal elections in March 2024, the sustainability of Ankara’s balancing act between Russia and the West, and the future of Turkey’s relations with Brussels and Washington.
Regardless of whether Türkiye can ever become an EU member, fostering cooperation over rivalry is beneficial for both sides. Brussels should redefine its ties with Ankara and revitalize the Western alliance for tackling regional and global challenges.
The country faces deep societal divisions about major aspects of its identity, with consequences for its future as an international actor and a regional power.
Carnegie Middle East scholars examine the factors that led to the conflict between Israel and Hamas—and what comes next.
During the Erdogan years, the perception of Turkey's place in the world from a geopolitical perspective has become more ambiguous. If the opposition wins the election, a very different conception of foreign policy may emerge.
The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism has sparked a debate about its negative spillover effects, particularly for developing and least developed countries. Reforming CBAM should be a priority for the EU not only for climate justice but also for geopolitical considerations.
One major failure why the opposition was not able to unseat Erdogan in the past related to its failure to act as a united opposition. This time around, the opposition has been able to set up a large coalition that includes six different political parties.
Ahead of Türkiye’s elections, the opposition has created a broad coalition in an attempt to defeat President Erdogan. Despite their differences, the six political parties have succeeded in drafting a comprehensive policy platform that could change Turkey's leadership after 20 years.
Join Carnegie for a conversation exploring Türkiye’s political future and the potential evolution of its international relations, including with the U.S., NATO, the European Union, and Russia. Ryan Heath will moderate a panel discussion featuring Alper Coşkun, Erika Olson, and Sinan Ülgen.
