William Armstrong
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williamarmstrong.bsky.social
William Armstrong
@williamarmstrong.bsky.social
Istanbul-based with BBC Monitoring. Founder, presenter, hype-man with Turkey Book Talk (@turkeybooktalk.bsky.social). I have no views.

https://turkeybooktalk.com

https://turkeybooktalk.substack.com/
Reposted by William Armstrong
I wrote about writing about Turkey
What we talk about when we talk about Turkey
How English-language commentary shifted from 'Is Erdoğan democratic?' to 'Is Erdoğan necessary?'
kulturkampftr.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Reposted by William Armstrong
🎧 Interview Alert!
@senemaydndzgit.bsky.social joins @williamarmstrong.bsky.social on @turkeybooktalk.bsky.social to discuss her article

Foreign policy as domestic politics in populist competitive authoritarianism: the case of the May 2023 elections in #Turkey

turkeybooktalk.com/2025/11/11/s...
Senem Aydın-Düzgit on foreign policy weaponisation in Turkish domestic politics
Turkey Book Talk #257 – Senem Aydın-Düzgit, professor of international relations at Sabanci University and director of the Istanbul Policy Centre, on her article “Foreign Policy as Domestic P…
turkeybooktalk.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Reposted by William Armstrong
New episode 🚨🚨

Senem Aydın-Düzgit (@senemaydndzgit.bsky.social) on how Erdogan uses foreign policy, defence policy and strongman diplomacy to burnish his reputation and consolidate domestic support

👇👇

turkeybooktalk.com/2025/11/11/s...
Senem Aydın-Düzgit on foreign policy weaponisation in Turkish domestic politics
Turkey Book Talk #257 – Senem Aydın-Düzgit, professor of international relations at Sabanci University and director of the Istanbul Policy Centre, on her article “Foreign Policy as Domestic P…
turkeybooktalk.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Reposted by William Armstrong
I very much enjoyed talking to @williamarmstrong.bsky.social for @turkeybooktalk.bsky.social on the domestic use of foreign policy in Turkish politics. based on my latest article for SESP. Thank you for the invite!
November 12, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Interesting remarks from veteran Kurdish politician Ahmet Turk on Ankara’s PKK peace process.

He emphasises the importance of Erdogan’s role, saying “the Kurdish issue… can only be solved by a leader who has established control over all state institutions”

www.sabah.com.tr/yazarlar/tub...
Ahmet Türk çözüm süreci hakkında net konuştu: Terörsüz Türkiye için güçlü bir irade var
DEM’li Ahmet Türk: Çözüm süreci, Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan desteklediği için ilerliyor. Ahenk içinde çalışan bir devlet ve iktidar var Milli Dayanışma, Kardeşlik ve Demokrasi Komisyonu'nun, geçmişteki gib...
www.sabah.com.tr
November 3, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Reposted by William Armstrong
New episode 📢📢

Nora Fisher Onar on “Contesting Pluralism: Islamism, Liberalism and Nationalism in Turkey and Beyond” (Cambridge University Press)

The book challenges the idea that Turkish political history is driven by binary divides between opposing forces.

👇👇

turkeybooktalk.com/2025/10/28/n...
Nora Fisher Onar on Turkish political history beyond binaries
Turkey Book Talk #256 – Nora Fisher Onar, Associate Professor and Chair of Global Studies at University of San Francisco, on “Contesting Pluralism(s): Islamism, Liberalism, and Nationalism in…
turkeybooktalk.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Reposted by William Armstrong
Good conversation about Greece and where it stands on @turkeybooktalk.bsky.social. Is Greece part of Middle East? (Yes, I dare to say, but it's also Balkans, and Europe)

Turkey Book Talk: Sean Mathews on Greece’s regional comeback amid rivalry with Turkey
turkeybooktalk.com/2025/10/14/s...
Sean Mathews on Greece’s regional comeback amid rivalry with Turkey
Turkey Book Talk #255 – Sean Mathews, Athens-based journalist at Middle East Eye, on “The New Byzantines: The Rise of Greece and Return of the Near East” (Hurst). The book examines Greece’s c…
turkeybooktalk.com
October 26, 2025 at 11:55 AM
UK PM Starmer visits Ankara today, with Turkey’s purchase of Eurofighter jets expected to be confirmed.

Several pundits see the visit as a sign the UK/Europe are focusing overwhelmingly on defence ties with Ankara, overlooking a growing crackdown on Turkey’s opposition.

t24.com.tr/yazarlar/bar...
“İngiliz casusu” İmamoğlu’ndan İngiliz Başbakan'ın Ankara ziyaretine
İngiltere Başbakanı Keir Starmer Ankara’da olacak. Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’la iş birliği imkanlarını konuşurken, tarihinin en zorlu baskıcı döneminden geçen ideolojik yoldaşı CHP’yi görmezd...
t24.com.tr
October 27, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Reposted by William Armstrong
This hypothesis is all the more plausible given that, a few hours before the verdict, a new investigation (for espionage) was launched against the imprisoned mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu.
I am not surprised that the court today dismissed a case seeking to oust Ozgur Ozel, and annul the CHP's 2023 congress over irregularities. Following the tactical retreat in last month's hearing, Ankara seems to have decided to limit the assault on the CHP to Imamoglu.
October 24, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Report on the steady ramping up of anti-LGBTQ measures in Turkey

👇👇
"Today’s emotion is rage," says Florence while prepping for a drag show.

'Rage' because last week news broke about an anti-LGBTQ draft law that would penalize expressions of queerness.

Johanna Sagmeister reports with comments by @yildiztar.bsky.social:
'My existence will be illegal': LGBTQ community vilified by Turkish draft law
ISTANBUL — When Florence Konstantina Delight talks about their childhood, the stories are primarily about bullying, abuse and hatred.
www.turkeyrecap.com
October 23, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Reposted by William Armstrong
Leyla Erbil's great novel "What Remains" appeared in English translation this month, published by Deep Vellum.

Amy Marie Spangler discussed the book, which sweeps the reader from the Byzantine Empire to 20th century Turkey, in our recent episode.

Listen 👇👇

turkeybooktalk.com/2025/09/02/a...
Amy Marie Spangler on Leyla Erbil’s dark vision of Istanbul’s history
Turkey Book Talk #252 – Amy Marie Spangler on the late great author Leyla Erbil’s What Remains. Amy co-translated the novel, along with Alev Ersan and Mark David Wyers, for an edition t…
turkeybooktalk.com
October 21, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Reposted by William Armstrong
Interesting article. Paradoxically, Tufan Erhürman's victory in the presidential election in Northern Cyprus against the candidate supported by the AKP could benefit Ankara, which has not abandoned the negotiating table and intends to improve its relations with Europe.
t24.com.tr/yazarlar/bar...
Seçim sonuçları Ankara’nın işine gelir, artık Rumlar düşünsün
AK Parti liderliği KKTC seçim sonuçlarını vakit geçirmeden kabul etti, zira gelmekte olanın geldiğini çok önceden görmüştü. Sanki seçimlere kendisi müdahale etmemiş gibi Kıbrıs Türk halkının tebrik ed...
t24.com.tr
October 20, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Turkey has big interest in Sunday's presidential election in the unrecognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Ankara has in recent years called for a formal divide in Cyprus, abandoning reunification efforts.

This article gives a good summary of the stakes 👇

foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/08/e...
Turkish Cypriots Go to the Polls. Will It Matter?
What a potentially unfair election in a definitely unrecognized country means for the Middle East and Europe.
foreignpolicy.com
October 17, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Reposted by William Armstrong
In the space of a year, the Turkish government, via the TMSF, has confiscated more than 400 businesses, including recently around 100 linked to Can Holding. The aim? To finance the AKP's patronage networks in anticipation of the next presidential elections.
www.ft.com/content/5c13...
Crackdown or capital grab? Turkey state fund controls 1,000 businesses
Anti-corruption drive transfers hundreds of companies to a deposit guarantee fund in the past year
www.ft.com
October 15, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Reposted by William Armstrong
Enjoyed this conversation and learnt a lot from this book

👇👇
October 14, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Enjoyed this conversation and learnt a lot from this book

👇👇
October 14, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by William Armstrong
New episode 🚨🚨

Sean Mathews on “The New Byzantines: The Rise of Greece and Return of the Near East” (@hurstpublishers.bsky.social)

The book explores Athens' role as a regional player and its ties with Turkey amid mounting geopolitical uncertainty

🎧👇

turkeybooktalk.com/2025/10/14/s...
Sean Mathews on Greece’s regional comeback amid rivalry with Turkey
Turkey Book Talk #255 – Sean Mathews, Athens-based journalist at Middle East Eye, on “The New Byzantines: The Rise of Greece and Return of the Near East” (Hurst). The book examines Greece’s c…
turkeybooktalk.com
October 14, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Reposted by William Armstrong
My latest piece for @foreignpolicy.com

Erdogan’s visit to Washington showed that the United States and Turkey just don’t need each other as much as they used to.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/30/t...
U.S.-Turkish Relations Have Gotten Duller, Not Better
Erdogan’s visit to Washington showed that the United States and Turkey just don’t need each other as much as they used to.
foreignpolicy.com
September 30, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Reposted by William Armstrong
New episode 💯💯

Perin Gurel on “Türkiye, Iran, and the Politics of Comparison: America’s Wife, America’s Concubine” (@universitypress.cambridge.org)

The book explores the political and cultural history of Turkey–Iran comparisons from the Cold War era to today

👇👇

turkeybooktalk.com/2025/09/30/p...
Perin Gurel on the history of comparing Turkey and Iran in the West
Turkey Book Talk #254 – Perin Gurel of the University of Notre Dame on “Türkiye, Iran, and the Politics of Comparison: America’s Wife, America’s Concubine” (Cambridge University P…
turkeybooktalk.com
September 30, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by William Armstrong
Looking fwd to reading this new book on Turkey, Iran and the US. As always, thank you @turkeybooktalk.bsky.social for keeping us all updated!
New episode 💯💯

Perin Gurel on “Türkiye, Iran, and the Politics of Comparison: America’s Wife, America’s Concubine” (@universitypress.cambridge.org)

The book explores the political and cultural history of Turkey–Iran comparisons from the Cold War era to today

👇👇

turkeybooktalk.com/2025/09/30/p...
Perin Gurel on the history of comparing Turkey and Iran in the West
Turkey Book Talk #254 – Perin Gurel of the University of Notre Dame on “Türkiye, Iran, and the Politics of Comparison: America’s Wife, America’s Concubine” (Cambridge University P…
turkeybooktalk.com
September 30, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Reposted by William Armstrong
A great article by Amberin Zaman detailing the main issues surrounding the KAAN project, Turkey's fifth-generation fighter jet. In summary: Ankara could complete the project if it reaches an agreement with Washington that includes the purchase of F110 engines and F16 aircraft.
September 30, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Reposted by William Armstrong
My latest from @foreignpolicy.com

"Just recently, Turkey stood out for its repeated assaults on international norms. Now, those norms have been shattered by a host of bigger and more aggressive actors, and Turkey looks almost calm in comparison.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/17/t...
Erdogan’s Irredentism Just Can’t Keep Up
As international norms crumble, Turkey’s revisionist policies appear less provocative in comparison.
foreignpolicy.com
September 17, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Reposted by William Armstrong
New episode 🚨🚨

Gokhan Bacik on Turkey's citizenship-selling programme.

The conversation examines the government's Citizenship By Investment scheme, its economic and social consequences, and the way it has been discussed in the national political debate.

👇👇

turkeybooktalk.com/2025/09/16/g...
Gokhan Bacik on Turkey’s citizenship-selling programme
Turkey Book Talk #253 – Gokhan Bacik, professor in the department of politics and European studies at Palacky University, on his article “Selling Citizenship in Turkey: Political Parties, Pra…
turkeybooktalk.com
September 16, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Reposted by William Armstrong
An image that speaks volumes about the political situation in Turkey: during the first hearing of the trial on allegations of ‘fake diplomas’, Mehmet Pehlivan, Ekrem İmamoğlu's lawyer, was forced to speak via videoconference, as he is currently in detention.
September 12, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Reposted by William Armstrong
Some thoughts on the most recent assault on the CHP:

1) As the regime's loyalty test with the CHP fails to achieve the desired outcomes, the CHP leadership is exposed to accelerated and aggrevated forms of domination test.
September 8, 2025 at 7:50 AM