Join Piotr Zilevski, The Economist's Turkey correspondent, as he breaks down Turkey's recent elections and the surprising resilience of President Erdogan amid opposition hopes. Daniela Raz, a data journalist, highlights alarming trends in teenage girls' mental health and the suspected role of social media. Meanwhile, Shashank Joshi shares intriguing insights from his recommended reading list on espionage, shedding light on the complexities of intelligence work and the challenges of modern-day spying.
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insights INSIGHT
Turkey's Election Runoff
Turkey's presidential election between Erdogan and Kılıçdaroğlu is heading to a runoff.
Erdogan performed better than pre-election polls suggested.
insights INSIGHT
Opposition Disappointment
Kılıçdaroğlu was expected to perform strongly, even possibly winning an outright majority.
However, he failed to secure a lead over Erdogan in the first round.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Contrasting Rallies
While opposition supporters were thinning out, Erdogan's rally was jubilant.
Erdogan exuded confidence, suggesting a possible first-round victory despite the results.
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In *Spies, Lies, and Algorithms*, Amy Zegart provides a detailed history of U.S. espionage, from George Washington's spies to modern-day spy satellites. She explores how technology is transforming espionage, creating new challenges and opportunities, and examines the impact of digital technology on intelligence agencies and policy. The book also delves into cognitive biases, traitors, covert actions, and congressional oversight.
Dark Mirrors
51 Schwarzspiegel
Arno Schmidt
The Billion Dollar Spy
A True Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal
David Hoffman
The book narrates the extraordinary story of Adolf Tolkachev, a Soviet engineer who, from 1977 to 1985, supplied the CIA with a vast amount of top-secret data on the USSR’s military capabilities. Tolkachev, working in a top-secret design laboratory, risked his life to provide information on Soviet radar, aircraft, and weapons technology. The CIA valued his intel at billions of dollars, making him the agency's most valuable Soviet asset. The book details the intricate and dangerous operations involved in handling Tolkachev, including clandestine meetings, dead-drops, and the bureaucratic challenges faced by the CIA. Hoffman's meticulous research and vivid storytelling bring to life the high-stakes espionage and the personal motivations of Tolkachev, as well as the broader geopolitical implications of his actions[1][4][The Bookish Elf, Goodreads].
Despite the opposition’s lead in the pre-election polls, the incumbent president seems to have performed better than expected. What does a run-off mean for the nation? The mental health of teenage girls is plummeting and according to our data, social media might be to blame. And, have you ever wondered what it takes to be a spy? Start with our reading list.
And for full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, try a free 30-day digital subscription by going to www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer
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