Alper Coşkun on Türkiye’s Crisis of Democracy

Interview with Alper Coşkun on Türkiye's political crisis - 21:10

This week is our third episode with Kelly's new co-host, Tristen Naylor, a non-resident fellow at ISD. Read more about Tristen on our website: https://isd.georgetown.edu/profile/tristen-naylor/

Kelly and Tristen give updates on renewed fighting in Gaza and how domestic Israeli politics led to the breakdown of the ceasefire. They also discuss JD Vance's visit to Greenland and highlight some encouraging developments in India's agricultural sector. Later, Kelly speaks with Carnegie's Alper Coşkun about Türkiye's escalating political turmoil. Coşkun traces the origins of the crisis and its implications for the future of Türkiye's democracy.

Alper is a senior fellow in the Europe Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC. His research focuses on Turkish foreign policy, especially in relation to the United States and Europe. He is a retired career diplomat of thirty-two years with extensive experience in both bilateral and multilateral settings. He was the director general for international security affairs at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2016 to 2019, covering NATO, transatlantic relations, Euro-Atlantic security/defense and arms control/disarmament matters. Before that, he was ambassador to Azerbaijan from 2012 to 2016, where he oversaw one of Türkiye’s most largest diplomatic missions.

The opinions expressed in this conversation are strictly those of the participants and do not represent the views of Georgetown University or any government entity.

Produced by Theo Malhotra and Freddie Mallinson. 

Recorded on March 31, 2025. Diplomatic Immunity, a podcast from the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, brings you frank and candid conversations with experts on the issues facing diplomats and national security decision-makers around the world.

Funding support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

For more, visit our website, and follow us on Linkedin, Twitter @GUDiplomacy, and Instagram @isd.georgetown