Water infrastructure is increasingly becoming part of broader geopolitical and security discussions in the Middle East. In a region where desalination facilities are highly vulnerable to disruptions and conflicts, alternative long-term models are attracting renewed attention. 📘 THE PEACE WATER PIPELINE PROJECT CAN BE UPDATED THROUGH EXPANSION ✍️ Author: Özge Emine ÖZÇELİK 🔗 https://avim.org.tr/en/Yorum/THE-PEACE-WATER-PIPELINE-PROJECT-CAN-BE-UPDATED-THROUGH-EXPANSION⁠� This AVİM analysis discusses how Türkiye’s geographical advantages, existing energy corridor experience, and infrastructure capacity could contribute to a future water and energy corridor model connecting Türkiye and the Gulf region. The commentary also evaluates how projects once considered unrealistic may gain relevance under changing regional conditions. Can water diplomacy become one of the defining strategic instruments of the next decade? #Türkiye #WaterSecurity #EnergySecurity #MiddleEast #RegionalConnectivity #Geopolitics #AVIM 💧📘🌐

Historical debates in the South Caucasus cannot be fully understood without examining the geopolitical context of the Cold War period. The interaction between Soviet foreign policy, intelligence operations, and diaspora politics continues to attract scholarly attention today. 📘 THE USSR AND THE EMERGENCE OF THE “ARMENIAN GENOCIDE” CLAIMS ✍️ Author: Maxime GAUIN 🔗 https://avim.org.tr/en/Yorum/THE-USSR-AND-THE-EMERGENCE-OF-THE-ARMENIAN-GENOCIDE-CLAIMS⁠� This AVİM commentary analyzes the evolution of Armenian genocide allegations within the broader framework of Soviet strategic objectives, ideological competition, and regional diplomacy. The study highlights how political narratives can intersect with international power struggles and information campaigns. To what extent do historical narratives reflect geopolitical realities of their time? #Türkiye #History #ColdWar #Geopolitics #SouthCaucasus #StrategicStudies #AVIM 📚🌐

Küresel ve bölgesel krizler, enerji güvenliği kadar su güvenliğinin de yeni dönemin temel stratejik başlıklarından biri haline geldiğini göstermektedir. Özellikle Körfez ülkelerinde deniz suyu arıtma tesislerine bağımlılık, çatışma dönemlerinde ciddi kırılganlıklar yaratmaktadır. 📘 KALKINMA YOLU VE BARIŞ SUYU PROJESİ ✍️ Yazar: Bora ODABAŞI 🔗 https://avim.org.tr/tr/Yorum/KALKINMA-YOLU-VE-BARIS-SUYU-PROJESI⁠� Bu AVİM yorumunda; Kalkınma Yolu Projesi, hidro-politik bağlantısallık, enerji koridorları ve Türkiye’nin bölgesel bağlantısallık kapasitesi birlikte değerlendirilmektedir. Türkiye üzerinden Körfez’e uzanabilecek alternatif su ve enerji hatları, bölgesel iş birliği ve dayanıklılık açısından yeni bir model oluşturabilir mi? #Türkiye #KalkınmaYolu #SuGüvenliği #EnerjiGüvenliği #Bağlantısallık #OrtaDoğu 💧🌍📘

Population decline has become one of the most debated issues in European politics. But how well do political narratives correspond with demographic evidence? 🌍📊
📘 POPULATION DECLINE IN EUROPE: FERTILE GROUND FOR POPULIST ISLAMOPHOBIA
✍️ Author: Armand SAĞ
🔗 Read the full commentary: https://avim.org.tr/Blog/POPULATION-DECLINE-IN-EUROPE-FERTILE-GROUND-FOR-POPULIST-ISLAMOPHOBIA
Drawing on demographic statistics and academic literature—including the work of Hans Rosling and other leading scholars—this analysis argues that declining fertility is a global socioeconomic phenomenon rather than a religious one. It also examines how demographic concerns are increasingly employed in European populist discourse and what this means for policy, integration, and regional stability.
📚 We welcome your views: How should policymakers address demographic challenges while avoiding polarizing narratives?
#Europe #Demography #Migration #Population #EuropeanPolitics #SocialCohesion #ThinkTank

The Center for Eurasian Studies (AVİM) celebrates the 103rd anniversary of the Lausanne Peace Treaty, which paved the way for the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye.

The Balkans have their own institutions, historical connections, and mechanisms for regional cooperation. The South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) provides a useful case for examining why regional ownership matters—and why Türkiye should be understood as an integral Balkan actor rather than an external participant. 🧭🌍
📘 SOUTH-EAST EUROPEAN COOPERATION PROCESS AND TÜRKİYE’S BALKAN IDENTITY
✍️ Author: Teoman Ertuğrul TULUN
🔗 Read the full analysis: https://avim.org.tr/en/Analiz/SOUTH-EAST-EUROPEAN-COOPERATION-PROCESS-AND-TURKIYE-S-BALKAN-IDENTITY
The analysis traces SEECP’s development as a regionally owned framework for dialogue, stability, and cooperative security. Türkiye’s founding role, continued participation, and historical and sociological links with South-East Europe provide a basis for viewing Ankara as a co-owner of the Balkan regional order. It also examines how political terminology such as the “Western Balkans” can fragment perceptions of the region and obscure Türkiye’s established Balkan identity.
💬 Should the future of Balkan regional cooperation be shaped primarily through inclusive regional frameworks rather than externally defined sub-regional categories?
#Balkans #Türkiye #SEECP #SoutheastEurope #RegionalSecurity #RegionalCooperation #Diplomacy

Foreign policy choices are increasingly being debated not only within Armenia but also across influential diaspora communities. As regional dynamics continue to evolve, discussions on strategic autonomy, realism, and national interests are becoming more visible. Could these debates contribute to a new diplomatic outlook? 🌐📚
📘 DIASPORA PERSPECTIVES ON ARMENIAN FOREIGN POLICY AND TÜRKİYE
✍️ Author: İlaha KHANTAMİROVA
🔗 Read the full commentary: https://avim.org.tr/en/Yorum/DIASPORA-PERSPECTIVES-ON-ARMENIAN-FOREIGN-POLICY-AND-TURKIYE
The commentary analyzes how sections of the Armenian Diaspora are reassessing both past and present foreign policy orientations, questioning long-standing dependence on external powers and advocating a more independent, multidimensional approach. It also explores why Türkiye's pragmatic diplomacy is increasingly cited as an example of interest-based statecraft, while emphasizing the importance of dialogue, regional stability, and sustainable normalization in the South Caucasus.
💬 What role can changing diaspora perspectives play in shaping Armenia's future regional engagement?
#SouthCaucasus #Armenia #Türkiye #ForeignPolicy #Diplomacy #RegionalCooperation #InternationalRelations #PeaceProcess

Academic publishing is intended to test ideas through evidence, criticism, and debate. Yet an important question remains: can peer review fulfil this purpose if unconventional perspectives are prevented from entering scholarly discussion in the first place? 📘🔍
📘 MONOPOLY OVER ACADEMIC PUBLISHING AND THE COST OF INTELLECTUAL CONFORMITY
✍️ Author: AVİM
🔗 Read the full commentary: https://avim.org.tr/en/Yorum/MONOPOLY-OVER-ACADEMIC-PUBLISHING-AND-THE-COST-OF-INTELLECTUAL-CONFORMITY
The commentary discusses how editorial structures, disciplinary networks, and prevailing intellectual norms can influence which arguments become visible within academia. It focuses particularly on scholarship concerning Türkiye and Ottoman history, arguing that Turkish perspectives and competing interpretations should be assessed through the same rigorous scholarly standards as established narratives.
The central issue is not whether weak scholarship should escape criticism, but whether criticism should take place through open academic engagement rather than prior exclusion. ⚖️
💬 Does stronger scholarship require tighter control over publication—or greater space for competing arguments to be openly tested?
#AcademicFreedom #AcademicPublishing #PeerReview #Türkiye #OttomanStudies #Historiography #ScholarlyDebate

The June 7 elections may mark an important stage in Armenia’s evolving approach to regional relations. Beyond determining the government, the vote carries implications for peace with Azerbaijan, normalization with Türkiye, economic integration, and Armenia’s balancing between Russia and the West. 🧭🗳️
📘 THE JUNE 7 ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA: POLITICAL CONTINUITY AND REGIONAL TRANSFORMATION
✍️ Author: Tuğçe TECİMER
🔗 Read the full analysis: https://avim.org.tr/en/Analiz/THE-JUNE-7-ELECTIONS-IN-ARMENIA-POLITICAL-CONTINUITY-AND-REGIONAL-TRANSFORMATION
The analysis argues that the election results indicate growing public emphasis on stability, economic development, and a more pragmatic foreign policy. Pashinyan’s renewed mandate may facilitate continued negotiations with Azerbaijan and normalization with Türkiye, although constitutional and domestic political obstacles remain.
Greater regional connectivity and improved relations with Türkiye and Azerbaijan could also provide Armenia with broader economic opportunities while contributing to stability across the South Caucasus.
💬 Will Armenia’s post-election political landscape translate electoral continuity into concrete progress toward regional peace and integration?
#SouthCaucasus #Armenia #Türkiye #Azerbaijan #RegionalCooperation #Diplomacy #Eurasia

The terminology used to describe conflict and migration can shape both international perceptions and subsequent political debate. When concepts with specific meanings under international law are invoked, should evidence and legal criteria receive greater attention than competing political narratives? ⚖️🧭
📘 THE MIGRATION OF ARMENIANS FROM KARABAKH AND THE CLAIMS OF A NEW “GENOCIDE”
✍️ Author: İlaha KHANTAMİROVA
🔗 Read the full analysis: https://avim.org.tr/en/Analiz/THE-MIGRATION-OF-ARMENIANS-FROM-KARABAKH-AND-THE-CLAIMS-OF-A-NEW-GENOCIDE
The analysis examines competing interpretations of the departure of Armenians from Karabakh following the 2023 developments. It considers Azerbaijan’s stated security guarantees, the circumstances surrounding the population movement, and the use of terms such as “ethnic cleansing” and “genocide” in political discourse.
The commentary further argues that assessments of Karabakh should take account of the wider history of the conflict, including the experiences of Azerbaijani civilians, while applying international legal terminology consistently and on the basis of verifiable evidence.
💬 Can a more evidence-based and legally precise discussion of Karabakh help reduce the influence of selective historical narratives and support regional reconciliation?
#SouthCaucasus #Karabakh #Azerbaijan #Armenia #InternationalLaw #Türkiye #Peace

⚓ As geopolitical competition intensifies around the Black Sea, the continued effectiveness of the Montreux Convention deserves renewed attention. Its 90th anniversary provides an opportunity to examine Türkiye’s guardianship of the Straits and the Convention’s contribution to limiting escalation.
📘 MONTREUX, CONSTRUCTIVE EURASIANISM, AND BLACK SEA STABILITY: REASSESSING TÜRKİYE’S STRAITS REGIME ON ITS 90TH ANNIVERSARY
✍️ Dr. Teoman Ertuğrul TULUN
🔗 https://avim.org.tr/en/Yorum/MONTREUX-CONSTRUCTIVE-EURASIANISM-AND-BLACK-SEA-STABILITY-REASSESSING-TURKIYE-S-STRAITS-REGIME-ON-ITS-90TH-ANNIVERSARY
The commentary argues that Montreux should be understood not as a relic of interwar diplomacy, but as a functioning legal framework connecting sovereignty, freedom of commercial navigation, and regional security. It also places Türkiye’s role within the broader perspective of Constructive Eurasianism.
#MontreuxConvention #BlackSeaStability #Türkiye #InternationalLaw #ConstructiveEurasianism

🧭 The Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process is producing increasingly constructive signals, yet the political language of external institutions can still influence the environment in which normalization develops. A balanced approach therefore remains important for regional confidence and stability.
📘 AN ASSESSMENT OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT’S BIASED POLITICS
✍️ İlaha KHANTAMİROVA
🔗 https://avim.org.tr/en/Yorum/AN-ASSESSMENT-OF-THE-EUROPEAN-PARLIAMENT-S-BIASED-POLITICS
The commentary assesses the European Parliament’s recent approach toward Azerbaijan in light of the progress being made between Baku and Yerevan. It asks whether repeated critical resolutions correspond with developments on the ground and examines the wider implications for the EU’s role in the South Caucasus.
The analysis argues that supporting peace requires consistency, careful attention to the positions of both parties, and language that facilitates reconciliation rather than reinforcing political divisions.
#SouthCaucasus #Azerbaijan #Armenia #EuropeanParliament #PeaceProcess #Diplomacy

The concept of genocide carries exceptional legal and moral weight. Yet its credibility ultimately depends on whether the same legal criteria are applied consistently, irrespective of the states, communities, or political interests involved. What happens when such a precisely defined international crime becomes part of political bargaining and competing historical narratives? ⚖️📚 📘 POLITICIZATION OF THE CONCEPT OF GENOCIDE AND LEMKIN’S LEGACY ✍️ Author: Tuğçe TECİMER 🔗 Read the full commentary: https://avim.org.tr/en/Yorum/POLITICIZATION-OF-THE-CONCEPT-OF-GENOCIDE-AND-LEMKIN-S-LEGACY The commentary takes the recent controversy surrounding the Lemkin Institute as a starting point for examining a wider problem: the potential politicization of the concept Raphael Lemkin helped introduce into international law. It considers competing claims about Lemkin’s legacy alongside the use of genocide allegations in contemporary international politics. The analysis also draws attention to Türkiye’s experience, arguing that debates concerning the Ottoman Relocation and Resettlement Law and the events of 1915 have repeatedly intersected with contemporary interstate relations. Its central argument is therefore one of consistency: if genocide constitutes a universal legal category, its standards cannot depend on political alignment, diplomatic circumstances, or the identities of the parties concerned. 💬 Can greater legal consistency help prevent the concept of genocide from becoming a political instrument while strengthening its original purpose under international law? #InternationalLaw #Genocide #RaphaelLemkin #Türkiye #LegalStandards #InternationalPolitics #HistoricalDebate

The continuing dispute between Armenia’s government and the Catholicosate of Etchmiadzin is no longer confined to Armenia’s domestic political and religious sphere. The position adopted by the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul raises a wider question: when does ecclesiastical solidarity begin to acquire political consequences? ⛪⚖️ 📘 CHURCH-GOVERNMENT TENSION IN ARMENIA AND THE STANCE OF THE ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE OF ISTANBUL ✍️ Author: Mehmet Oğuzhan TULUN 🔗 Read the full commentary: https://avim.org.tr/en/Yorum/CHURCH-GOVERNMENT-TENSION-IN-ARMENIA-AND-THE-STANCE-OF-THE-ARMENIAN-PATRIARCHATE-OF-ISTANBUL The commentary examines the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul’s support for Catholicos Karekin II in his dispute with the Pashinyan government. It emphasizes the historically independent institutional position of the Istanbul Patriarchate and questions whether involvement in Armenia’s internal political-religious controversy is compatible with its role and responsibilities in Türkiye. The issue also carries a foreign-policy dimension. Türkiye and Armenia are pursuing a normalization process based on sensitive political and regional balances, while Karekin II is presented in the commentary as a prominent opponent of this process. Against this background, the analysis argues that the Patriarchate’s intervention deserves consideration not only from an ecclesiastical perspective but also in terms of Türkiye–Armenia relations. 🧭 💬 How can religious institutions maintain ecclesiastical ties without becoming participants in political disputes that may affect interstate normalization? #Türkiye #Armenia #SouthCaucasus #ArmenianPatriarchate #TürkiyeArmeniaRelations #Normalization #RegionalDiplomacy

The annual liturgy at the historic Surp Khach Church on Akhtamar Island has developed into a visible symbol of religious and cultural coexistence in Türkiye. The restoration of the church and its reopening for worship also demonstrate how cultural heritage can provide opportunities for dialogue. But what happens when this positive environment becomes intertwined with wider political controversies? ⛪🕊️ 📘 ABUSING THE POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE OF THE AKHTAMAR LITURGY FOR POLITICAL ENDS ✍️ Author: AVİM 🔗 Read the full commentary: https://avim.org.tr/en/Yorum/ABUSING-THE-POSITIVE-ATMOSPHERE-OF-THE-AKHTAMAR-LITURGY-FOR-POLITICAL-ENDS The commentary welcomes the inherently religious character of Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan’s pilgrimage to Türkiye and his participation in the Akhtamar liturgy. It nevertheless critically assesses his separate meeting with Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew, placing it within ongoing debates concerning the political activities of church officials in Türkiye. From this perspective, the analysis argues for preserving the distinction between religious engagement and political activity, particularly when Türkiye provides an environment in which historically significant religious sites can once again host worship and international visitors. 💬 Can maintaining a clearer boundary between religious dialogue and political agendas help strengthen the inclusive atmosphere represented by the Akhtamar liturgy? #Türkiye #Akhtamar #Van #ReligiousFreedom #CulturalHeritage #ReligiousDialogue #Coexistence

The transition from C5 to C6 may signal more than an enlargement of Central Asia’s regional dialogue. Azerbaijan’s permanent institutional participation strengthens the political, economic, and transportation connections linking Central Asia, the Caspian Basin, and the South Caucasus—and potentially opens a new phase in the integration of the Turkic world. 🌏🔗 📘 CHOLPON-ATA SUMMIT: NEW PERIOD IN AZERBAIJAN'S CENTRAL ASIA INTEGRATION ✍️ Author: İlaha KHANTAMİROVA 🔗 Read the full analysis: https://avim.org.tr/en/Analiz/CHOLPON-ATA-SUMMIT-NEW-PERIOD-IN-AZERBAIJAN-S-CENTRAL-ASIA-INTEGRATION The analysis examines the Cholpon-Ata Summit as an important step toward institutionalizing Azerbaijan’s integration with Central Asia. Cooperation now extends across transportation, energy, investment, security, border management, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and education. The development of transport corridors and projects such as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway further demonstrates the region’s growing importance for connections between Asia and Europe. Azerbaijan’s bridging position across the Caspian adds another dimension to this transformation, while deeper integration among Turkic states can also strengthen connectivity extending toward Türkiye. 🧭 💬 Could C6 develop from a consultative mechanism into a more influential framework for Eurasian connectivity and regional cooperation? #CentralAsia #Azerbaijan #Türkiye #TurkicWorld #C6 #Caspian #Connectivity #Eurasia