Both what the future democratization efforts entail and how expedient they will be depend, not on Erdoğan administration, but on the opposition. Unless the opposition makes a move soon, democratization in Turkey will have to come gradually in “mini democratization packages”.

One should not expect a cure-all magic package but appreciate every single positive step because improvements take place through small steps extended over a period of time in Turkey.

Despite the arrival of United Nations (UN) inspectors at Syria to investigate the claims that the Bashar al Assad regime uses chemical weapons against civilians and opponents, the Assad forces coordinated a chemical attack against the East Ghouta area in the Damascus suburb today and that has opened a new round of discussions about the track record of chemical weapons use in Syria.

SETA presents the analyses of SETA experts on Syria in order to better understand Syrian civil war which cost more than 100 thousand lives, injured more than 2 million people and displaced many others.

This is a complex conflict; it is not simply black and white. In order to fully understand what is happening in Syria, every aspect of the conflict must be considered including the actors both inside and outside the state.

As the fourth anniversary of the 2009 events in Urumqi and the holy month of Ramadan are approaching, East Turkestan is once again beginning to relive these events to which we have become accustomed without even realizing it.

A wish for the AK Party to be thrown out of power through undemocratic means is not a stance that can bring about meaningful political change. ItÂ’s a psychological reflex from a bygone era.

In 2012 the government introduced numerous changes and established new mechanisms in order to reinforce the constitutional state, resolve judiciary issues, protect and improve human rights and finally strengthen democracy.

The increasing timidity of Western democracies to pursue the principle of responsibility to protect at an international level is leaving the Chinese government with the freedom to oppress .

Öcalan has recognized the fact that Turkey’s democratic consolidation would be delayed as long as the PKK continued to hold arms.

During the Feb.28 post-modern coup process, the judiciary was pressured via briefings. Prosecutors and judges who did not rule as they were asked from them were relegated.

Legislation and judiciary in Turkey have served to safeguard interests of the state rather than protecting rights and freedoms of citizens.

Speaking to Yeni Asya, SETA Director for Law and Human Rights Yılmaz Ensaroğlu stated that drafting a democratic constitution isn’t everything; one must remember that a democratic constitution is only possible if we change our mindset.

The new constitution cannot and will not meet all the demands of all political parties and drafting a new constitution will be impossible unless everyone takes a step back.

Israel has been living in political déjà vu for some time now. It neither comprehends the transformation in the region, nor does it have the political capacity to analyze the future.

The al-Maliki government, particularly in the past year, has employed the most ordinary Baathist strategies.