Instagram’s suspension in Türkiye reflects how platforms’ content governance is shaped by a Western worldview

There are growing divisions over how to treat groups such as Hamas online.

Join us for an in-depth discussion on Syria’s gradual normalization with countries in the Middle East and its reinstatement in the League of Arab States in May 2023, a significant step that signals a potential shift in Middle Eastern dynamics and regional security architecture. The normalization process began in 2018 when the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain reopened their embassies in Damascus, after Syria had been suspended from the Arab League in 2011 due to its brutal crackdown on protesters. Recently, Türkiye has also shown interest in normalizing relations with Syria, driven by concerns over Kurdish influence in northern Syria and the refugee crisis. The panel will evaluate the normalization process to date, examine the regime's willingness and capability to deliver on its promises, and assess whether the initial motivations of Arab states for normalization have been met. European and U.S. reactions have generally remained more cautious, emphasizing that normalization should be contingent on tangible political reforms by the Assad regime and adherence to human rights standards.

Against this backdrop of developments, the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center is hosting a virtual panel discussion on August 8, at 5:00 PM Beirut Time/ 10:00 AM EDT. The event will feature Sinan Ulgen, Sawsan Abou Zainedin, Abdullah Baabood, and Maria Luisa Fantappiè, and will be moderated by Armenak Tokmajyan.

The discussion will be held in English. Viewers may submit their questions to the panelists using the live chat feature on Facebook and YouTube.

For more information, please contact Najwa Yassine at najwa.yassine@carnegie-mec.org.

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.