Sinem Adar
@sinemadar.bsky.social
Head (CATS/SWPBerlin & CATS Network), Co-Head of the Autocratisation Thematic Group @SWP. Views personal. Writes in EN/TR
The series of events surrounding the rapprochement (and alignment) between Ankara&Ocalan (since October 2024) stands at the intersection of the future of political systems in TR&SYR. In Turkey, it is about regime survival&stabilization. In Syria, it concerns state formation under Shara's leadership.
Redesigning the DEM Party has been, since from the beginning, one of the aims of Ankara's rapprochement efforts with Abdullah Ocalan. Expect more pressure on the party in the coming weeks and months.
January 15, 2026 at 7:29 AM
The series of events surrounding the rapprochement (and alignment) between Ankara&Ocalan (since October 2024) stands at the intersection of the future of political systems in TR&SYR. In Turkey, it is about regime survival&stabilization. In Syria, it concerns state formation under Shara's leadership.
Redesigning the DEM Party has been, since from the beginning, one of the aims of Ankara's rapprochement efforts with Abdullah Ocalan. Expect more pressure on the party in the coming weeks and months.
January 15, 2026 at 7:13 AM
Redesigning the DEM Party has been, since from the beginning, one of the aims of Ankara's rapprochement efforts with Abdullah Ocalan. Expect more pressure on the party in the coming weeks and months.
As violent clashes between the STG and the SDF continue, pressure on the DEM Party within Turkey mounts. Over the last couple of days, pro-government journalists (and others) have called on the party to completely align itself with Abdullah Ocalan.
January 15, 2026 at 7:13 AM
As violent clashes between the STG and the SDF continue, pressure on the DEM Party within Turkey mounts. Over the last couple of days, pro-government journalists (and others) have called on the party to completely align itself with Abdullah Ocalan.
Reposted by Sinem Adar
"That silence also appears to reflect the discipline’s ingrained worldview, in which mass atrocities are committed by bad people in faraway places—not by, and with the full support of, liberal democracies."
dissentmagazine.org/article/the-...
dissentmagazine.org/article/the-...
The Demise of Conflict Studies - Dissent Magazine
An entire industry specializing in mediation, peacekeeping, disarmament, and transitional justice has become largely obsolete.
dissentmagazine.org
January 13, 2026 at 7:51 PM
"That silence also appears to reflect the discipline’s ingrained worldview, in which mass atrocities are committed by bad people in faraway places—not by, and with the full support of, liberal democracies."
dissentmagazine.org/article/the-...
dissentmagazine.org/article/the-...
"That silence also appears to reflect the discipline’s ingrained worldview, in which mass atrocities are committed by bad people in faraway places—not by, and with the full support of, liberal democracies."
dissentmagazine.org/article/the-...
dissentmagazine.org/article/the-...
The Demise of Conflict Studies - Dissent Magazine
An entire industry specializing in mediation, peacekeeping, disarmament, and transitional justice has become largely obsolete.
dissentmagazine.org
January 13, 2026 at 7:51 PM
"That silence also appears to reflect the discipline’s ingrained worldview, in which mass atrocities are committed by bad people in faraway places—not by, and with the full support of, liberal democracies."
dissentmagazine.org/article/the-...
dissentmagazine.org/article/the-...
Reposted by Sinem Adar
Interesting: "President Masoud Barzani on Monday condemned acts of discrimination and harassment targeting Syrian Arabs in the Kurdistan Region, warning against collective blame following deadly violence in Aleppo’s Kurdish-majority neighborhoods."
It is also about intra-Kurdish dynamics. What I find noteworthy here is the call btw Shara's and Barzani during the clashes. Reportedly, Shara'a assured Barzani that the "Kurds are an indigenous and main component of Syria".
January 13, 2026 at 6:51 AM
Interesting: "President Masoud Barzani on Monday condemned acts of discrimination and harassment targeting Syrian Arabs in the Kurdistan Region, warning against collective blame following deadly violence in Aleppo’s Kurdish-majority neighborhoods."
Interesting: "President Masoud Barzani on Monday condemned acts of discrimination and harassment targeting Syrian Arabs in the Kurdistan Region, warning against collective blame following deadly violence in Aleppo’s Kurdish-majority neighborhoods."
It is also about intra-Kurdish dynamics. What I find noteworthy here is the call btw Shara's and Barzani during the clashes. Reportedly, Shara'a assured Barzani that the "Kurds are an indigenous and main component of Syria".
January 13, 2026 at 6:51 AM
Interesting: "President Masoud Barzani on Monday condemned acts of discrimination and harassment targeting Syrian Arabs in the Kurdistan Region, warning against collective blame following deadly violence in Aleppo’s Kurdish-majority neighborhoods."
Reposted by Sinem Adar
Great work, once again, by Hale Gönültaş on foreign Isis members in Turkey.
Three Isis members and their families granted Turkish citizenship, and 19 others various residence permits.
Turkey also has record of granting citizenship to Interpol-wanted drug dealers
kisadalga.net/haber/ozel-h...
Three Isis members and their families granted Turkish citizenship, and 19 others various residence permits.
Turkey also has record of granting citizenship to Interpol-wanted drug dealers
kisadalga.net/haber/ozel-h...
IŞİD’lilere vatandaşlık ve kimlik verilmiş: Savcılık belgeleri ile ortaya çıktı
Savcılık belgelerine göre, çatışma bölgelerinde aktif rol aldığı belirlenen üç IŞİD militanının aileleriyle birlikte Türkiye Cumhuriyeti vatandaşlığı aldığı, 19 örgüt mensubunun ise il göç idarelerind...
kisadalga.net
January 12, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Great work, once again, by Hale Gönültaş on foreign Isis members in Turkey.
Three Isis members and their families granted Turkish citizenship, and 19 others various residence permits.
Turkey also has record of granting citizenship to Interpol-wanted drug dealers
kisadalga.net/haber/ozel-h...
Three Isis members and their families granted Turkish citizenship, and 19 others various residence permits.
Turkey also has record of granting citizenship to Interpol-wanted drug dealers
kisadalga.net/haber/ozel-h...
Reposted by Sinem Adar
As an event, Aleppo has reshuffled the respective leverage of STG and the SDF ahead of the next round of negotiations. Yet it is not only about the power struggle between the two actors over the future of the Syrian state.
January 11, 2026 at 3:05 PM
As an event, Aleppo has reshuffled the respective leverage of STG and the SDF ahead of the next round of negotiations. Yet it is not only about the power struggle between the two actors over the future of the Syrian state.
Last but not least, Aleppo as an event is also about Turkey and Israel reaching a mutually agreeable balance in Syria with the involvement of the US.
January 11, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Last but not least, Aleppo as an event is also about Turkey and Israel reaching a mutually agreeable balance in Syria with the involvement of the US.
It is also about intra-Kurdish dynamics. What I find noteworthy here is the call btw Shara's and Barzani during the clashes. Reportedly, Shara'a assured Barzani that the "Kurds are an indigenous and main component of Syria".
January 11, 2026 at 3:05 PM
It is also about intra-Kurdish dynamics. What I find noteworthy here is the call btw Shara's and Barzani during the clashes. Reportedly, Shara'a assured Barzani that the "Kurds are an indigenous and main component of Syria".
As an event, Aleppo has reshuffled the respective leverage of STG and the SDF ahead of the next round of negotiations. Yet it is not only about the power struggle between the two actors over the future of the Syrian state.
January 11, 2026 at 3:05 PM
As an event, Aleppo has reshuffled the respective leverage of STG and the SDF ahead of the next round of negotiations. Yet it is not only about the power struggle between the two actors over the future of the Syrian state.
As for the positioning of the SDF, I agree with your general assessment. As already mentioned, my initial post concerns Ankara's perceptions and policy. As one of the crucial actors within the TR regime, Bahceli's (and other key reg actors') statements provide clues in this respect.
January 11, 2026 at 2:44 PM
As for the positioning of the SDF, I agree with your general assessment. As already mentioned, my initial post concerns Ankara's perceptions and policy. As one of the crucial actors within the TR regime, Bahceli's (and other key reg actors') statements provide clues in this respect.
Reposted by Sinem Adar
There will be a lot of big stories in 2026 regarding US democracy, but the biggest IMO will be the effort to reshape the electoral system
More from the party of federalism: "the states are merely an agent for the federal government in counting and tabulating the votes. They must do what the federal government, as represented by the president of the United States, tells them, for the good of the country, to do."
January 9, 2026 at 4:56 PM
There will be a lot of big stories in 2026 regarding US democracy, but the biggest IMO will be the effort to reshape the electoral system
A vital member of Turkey's ruling alliance and the leading actor of Turkish nationalism, the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) calls for nuclear armament: "Given that a large-scale war is a threat closer than ever before, it is imperative that TR acquire nuclear weapons."
t24.com.tr/haber/trump-...
t24.com.tr/haber/trump-...
"Trump ABD'si korsan bir devlettir" diyen MHP'den dikkat çeken talep: NATO çöktü, Türkiye'nin nükleer silah üretmesi elzem!
"Trump ABD'si korsan bir devlettir" diyen MHP'den dikkat çeken talep: NATO çöktü, Türkiye'nin nükleer silah üretmesi elzem!
t24.com.tr
January 9, 2026 at 2:07 PM
A vital member of Turkey's ruling alliance and the leading actor of Turkish nationalism, the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) calls for nuclear armament: "Given that a large-scale war is a threat closer than ever before, it is imperative that TR acquire nuclear weapons."
t24.com.tr/haber/trump-...
t24.com.tr/haber/trump-...
Reposted by Sinem Adar
At first glance, there is not much new in Hakan Fidan's remarks yesterday about the SDF efforts to build a "parallel state" in coordination with Israel. Still, the part on the SDF's refusal to take a step back despite Ocalan's letters to this direction is noteworthy for reflection.
January 9, 2026 at 8:13 AM
At first glance, there is not much new in Hakan Fidan's remarks yesterday about the SDF efforts to build a "parallel state" in coordination with Israel. Still, the part on the SDF's refusal to take a step back despite Ocalan's letters to this direction is noteworthy for reflection.
This is how I think Ankara sees the process. I would be curious to hear/read your interpretation of the actors' perceptions.
January 9, 2026 at 8:28 AM
This is how I think Ankara sees the process. I would be curious to hear/read your interpretation of the actors' perceptions.
Such a depiction only spells doubt on Ocalan's authority, but also reminds Ankara's sole control and ownership over the ongoing rapprochement process within Turkey.
January 9, 2026 at 8:13 AM
Such a depiction only spells doubt on Ocalan's authority, but also reminds Ankara's sole control and ownership over the ongoing rapprochement process within Turkey.
At this point, particular the DEM does not appear to have a wide space for manuevor. This is partially due to confining the whole process to Ocalan's leadership. Ankara's representation of the SDF as a defiant actor is likely not a coincidence.
January 9, 2026 at 8:13 AM
At this point, particular the DEM does not appear to have a wide space for manuevor. This is partially due to confining the whole process to Ocalan's leadership. Ankara's representation of the SDF as a defiant actor is likely not a coincidence.
An important detail here is that Öcalan's New Year message encouraged the implementation of the March 10 Agreement. Unless my memory fails me, this was the first time that Öcalan explicitly mentioned the March 10 Agreement.
January 9, 2026 at 8:13 AM
An important detail here is that Öcalan's New Year message encouraged the implementation of the March 10 Agreement. Unless my memory fails me, this was the first time that Öcalan explicitly mentioned the March 10 Agreement.
I tend to interpret Fidan's reference to Ocalan's letters to the SDF as an answer to these demands and also as a slight reversal of Ankara's previous calls for Öcalan to persuade the SDF.
January 9, 2026 at 8:13 AM
I tend to interpret Fidan's reference to Ocalan's letters to the SDF as an answer to these demands and also as a slight reversal of Ankara's previous calls for Öcalan to persuade the SDF.
DEM Party's spokesperson Aysegul Dogan noted in a press conference yesterday that Ocalan wants to meet with Abdi and in light of the renewed clashes between the STG and the SDF, Ocalan could play a positive role, she further said.
January 9, 2026 at 8:13 AM
DEM Party's spokesperson Aysegul Dogan noted in a press conference yesterday that Ocalan wants to meet with Abdi and in light of the renewed clashes between the STG and the SDF, Ocalan could play a positive role, she further said.
Various Kurdish actors themselves indicated in the last couple of months readiness to meet with Ocalan. In Nov, for instance, Mazloum Abdi underlined the SDF's readiness to take part in the talks between Ankara and Ocalan, and that he would like to meet with the latter.
January 9, 2026 at 8:13 AM
Various Kurdish actors themselves indicated in the last couple of months readiness to meet with Ocalan. In Nov, for instance, Mazloum Abdi underlined the SDF's readiness to take part in the talks between Ankara and Ocalan, and that he would like to meet with the latter.
This emphasis is interesting given that since the Fall 2025 regime actors in Turkey - including Bahceli - repeatedly asked (in public statements) Ocalan to make a call to the SDF. For Ankara, the SDF is not exempt from the PKK's disarmament and dissolution.
January 9, 2026 at 8:13 AM
This emphasis is interesting given that since the Fall 2025 regime actors in Turkey - including Bahceli - repeatedly asked (in public statements) Ocalan to make a call to the SDF. For Ankara, the SDF is not exempt from the PKK's disarmament and dissolution.
At first glance, there is not much new in Hakan Fidan's remarks yesterday about the SDF efforts to build a "parallel state" in coordination with Israel. Still, the part on the SDF's refusal to take a step back despite Ocalan's letters to this direction is noteworthy for reflection.
January 9, 2026 at 8:13 AM
At first glance, there is not much new in Hakan Fidan's remarks yesterday about the SDF efforts to build a "parallel state" in coordination with Israel. Still, the part on the SDF's refusal to take a step back despite Ocalan's letters to this direction is noteworthy for reflection.