23
June 2015
Past Event
Turkey, the Kurds, and the Middle East: What the Turkish Elections Portend for the Region's Future

Turkey, the Kurds, and the Middle East: What the Turkish Elections Portend for the Region's Future

Past Event
Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters
June 23, 2015
Default Event Image
23
June 2015
Past Event

1015 15th Street, N.W., 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20005

Speakers:
Lee Smith

Former Senior Fellow

Ambassador James Jeffrey

Philip Solondz Distinguished Visiting Fellow, The Washington Institute

Tolga Tanis

Washington Correspondent, Hurriyet

Gonul Tol

Founding Director, Center for Turkish Studies, Middle East Institute

The recent Turkish elections indicated the strength of Turkish democracy. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s bid for unrivaled executive power was rejected by Turkey's voters, demonstrating the growing political power of the country’s largest minority group, the Kurds.

Commentary on Turkish politics typically focuses on Islamism, Erdogan’s ambition, the nature of the Justice and Development party, and the various political scandals of the last few years. The reality is that more significant changes in the country are going relatively unnoticed. Turkey’s shifting demographics—rising Kurdish birth rates and lower Turkish birth rates—suggest that this key NATO ally is undergoing a fundamental transformation. What does this mean for Turkey and the rest of the Middle East, particularly countries that have large Kurdish populations including Iraq, Syria, and Iran? What challenges and opportunities will this present to American policymakers in the coming years?

On June 23rd at 10 am, Hudson Institute will host a panel discussion on Turkey, the Kurds, and the Middle East featuring former U.S. ambassador to Turkey James Jeffrey; Tolga Tanis, the Washington correspondent for the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet; Gonul Tol, founding director of the Middle East Institute’s Center for Turkish Studies; and Eric B. Brown, Hudson Institute senior fellow and co-editor of Current Trends in Islamist Ideology. Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Lee Smith will moderate the discussion.

Related Events
30
April 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Strategy in Motion: The Policies and Tactics of Modern Warfare | Political Studies Policy Certificate Program
Featured Speakers:
Garrett Exner
Rachel Mackey
Brendan McBreen
SIM
30
April 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Strategy in Motion: The Policies and Tactics of Modern Warfare | Political Studies Policy Certificate Program

The Hudson Institute Political Studies Policy Certificate Program gathers talented early career professionals for advanced study of American foreign and domestic policy and national security, led by policy experts and experienced government officials.

SIM
Featured Speakers:
Garrett Exner
Rachel Mackey
Brendan McBreen
01
May 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Cuba’s Kleptocracy: How It Works and Why It Matters for US Policy
Featured Speakers:
John Suarez
Nora Gámez Torres
Daniel Batlle
Moderator:
Nate Sibley
Getty Images
01
May 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Cuba’s Kleptocracy: How It Works and Why It Matters for US Policy

As the Trump administration indicates a “tough” new approach toward Havana, join Hudson for an expert discussion on how kleptocracy operates in Cuba and its implications for American policy.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
John Suarez
Nora Gámez Torres
Daniel Batlle
Moderator:
Nate Sibley
07
May 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
What’s Happening in Minsk? A Conversation with Belarusian Democratic Leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
Featured Speakers:
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
Peter Rough
Getty Images
07
May 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
What’s Happening in Minsk? A Conversation with Belarusian Democratic Leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Join Senior Fellow Peter Rough as he sits down with Tsikhanouskaya for a conversation on the state of affairs in Belarus and the geopolitics of Central and Eastern Europe.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
Peter Rough
30
April 2025
Past Event
Rebuilding America’s Maritime Industrial Base with Senators Mark Kelly and Todd Young
Featured Speakers:
Senator Todd Young
Senator Mark Kelly
Michael Roberts
Bryan Clark
Fast-attack submarine USS North Carolina (SSN 777) enters Dry Dock 1 at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Hawaii, on September 4, 2024. (US Navy photo by Justice Vannatta)
30
April 2025
Past Event
Rebuilding America’s Maritime Industrial Base with Senators Mark Kelly and Todd Young

Hudson will welcome Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Todd Young (R-IN) to discuss their proposal to restore America’s shipping and shipbuilding industries to help deter Chinese aggression.

Fast-attack submarine USS North Carolina (SSN 777) enters Dry Dock 1 at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Hawaii, on September 4, 2024. (US Navy photo by Justice Vannatta)
Featured Speakers:
Senator Todd Young
Senator Mark Kelly
Michael Roberts
Bryan Clark