Director, Columbia Global Centers, İstanbul
12 May 2020, Tuesday / Published in Politics

Is there a national solution to a global crisis?

In Turkey and elsewhere we hear it often these days ‘native and national’. (*) In primary school, I remember we had ‘national products week.’ We still do. There is always a tendency to think we can resolve global issues by local means. Turkey has become a more integral part of global markets, especially since the
27 March 2020, Friday / Published in Life, Politics

Virus in the U.S.: wild capitalism vs. right to live

The COVID-19 pandemic affects the young and old, the rich and poor: any one of us regardless of our nationality, ethnicity or religion. We are all in emergency mode.
18 March 2020, Wednesday / Published in Life, Politics

Interesting times: East recovers, West in disarray

My 11-year-old son just hijacked my phone and said “you have broken another record” after seeing my social media usage hours. He is threatening to take away my phone! This is normally the kind of warning a mother would give to her kids… If you want to know why this is happening, you are probably
13 March 2020, Friday / Published in Life, Politics

Turkey’s ‘three monkeys’ play with coronavirus

In Turkey we like the “three monkeys” play. Especially our governments over the years have hidden so many truths from us… And we should take accountability as well, since we are also party to this deception. The coronavirus pandemic has been no exception. It may be plausible for some that the Turkish state is “protecting”
08 March 2020, Sunday / Published in Life

Livaneli’s universal tune

Zülfü Livaneli has been one of the leading symbols in Turkey in the quest for rights and justice. An artist who feels equally comfortable with the traditional Anatolian saz, the pen or the microphone, he is an international name followed by millions as a musician, writer, and political activist…Many generations grew up with his songs,