Asli Aydintasbas

Asli Aydintasbas, a senior policy fellow and expert on Turkish politics, delves into the worrying trends of democratic backsliding observed in Turkey, Hungary, and the U.S. She draws fascinating parallels between Erdogan, Orban, and Trump, highlighting the tools used to consolidate power. However, she expresses cautious optimism about the U.S. due to its structural strengths, including federalism and lifetime judges. Aydintasbas also emphasizes the importance of addressing economic concerns to counter populism and the need for authentic leadership in future elections.

Asli Aydintasbas, a Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution specializing in Turkish and European politics, and Nathalie Tocci, Director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali focusing on European foreign policy, delve into Syria's recent political shift. They discuss the collapse of the al-Assad regime and the implications for regional stability. Topics include the rising opposition forces backed by Turkey, Europe's shifting foreign policy priorities amidst Ukraine, and the urgent need for a coherent strategy to address reconstruction and geopolitical tensions.