Turkey is facing internal and external threats, including the aftermath of a July 2016 coup attempt and the destabilizing effects of the Syrian war. At the same time, Turkey's domestic politics are becoming increasingly authoritarian with narrowing space for political opposition, free media, and civil society. With mistrust growing on both sides, Turkey is near an all-time low in its relations with the west.
On February 6th, the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation and Middle East Initiative at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs hosted a talk called, “Turkey’s Democratic Backsliding: The US and EU Response” featuring Ash Center Democracy in Hard Places Fellow Dr. Amanda Sloat. Jonas Bergan Draege, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Middle East Initiative, moderated.