Gonul Tol
As seen in:
CNN,
The New York Times,
BBC,
Financial Times,
Substack,
Flipboard,
POLITICO Europe,
Foreign Policy Magazine,
Yahoo,
Foreign Affairs
and
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Gonul Tol
When the world's at stake, go beyond the headlines.
The Kurds’ fortunes have ebbed and flowed in recent years, but the fall of the Assad regime in Syria in December 2024, the 2025 decision by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to dissolve and engage in talks with the Turkish government, and the 2026 U.S.-Israeli war with Iran had enormous ripple effects on the lives of Kurds in the Middle East and Kurdish hopes for autonomy.
Erdogan and Putin, the End of an Unlikely Partnership
About a decade ago, the war in Syria helped to forge an unlikely partnership in the Middle East between Turkey and Russia. It is now unraveling. In its place, Turkey is helping Ukraine to establish a foothold in a part of the world where President Vladimir Putin of Russia previously enjoyed considerable influence.
After Years of Deference to Putin, Erdogan Is Trying Something New
19 hours ago Russia says Ukraine has launched an "unprecedented attack" on and around St Petersburg, as the city hosted the final day of an economic forum. More than 140 drones were shot down over the surrounding Leningrad region, governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said, while the city's governor, Alexander Beglov, …
After Years of Deference to Putin, Erdogan Is Trying Something New
After Years of Deference to Putin, Erdogan Is Trying Something New June 7, 2026, 1:00 a.m. ET Credit...Pool photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko Ms. Tol is a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute and the author of a book about Recep Tayyip Erdogan. About a decade ago, the war in Syria helped to forge an unlikely partnership in the Middle East between Turkey and Russia. It is now unraveling.
Hard realpolitik: Erdogan tightens grip, West compromises
In September, just days after tens of thousands of Turks had poured into the streets to protest President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s latest crackdown on his political opponents and a faltering economy, Erdogan stood smiling beside President Trump at the White House.
The Indispensable Erdogan
In September, just days after tens of thousands of Turks had poured into the streets to protest President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s latest crackdown on his political opponents and a faltering economy, Mr. Erdogan stood smiling beside President Trump at the White House.
The Indispensable Erdogan
As the British people approach the Christmas season, many of us anticipate less the pleasure of eating turkey than the nigh-certain pain of having our own feathers plucked. On Nov. 26, Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves will unveil a budget that she admits will be dominated by an …
Opinion | The Indispensable Erdogan Original
Opinion|The Indispensable Erdogan https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/opinion/erdogan-turkey-president-power.html You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. Guest Essay Nov.
The Fall of Assad Created New Challenges for Turkey in Syria Original
Foreign & Public Diplomacy Military Middle East and North Africa When Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad was toppled late last year, it looked like a golden opportunity for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkey’s democracy, Syria and the PKK peace process with Gönül Tol
Gönül Tol, director of the Turkey Program at the Middle East Institute, joined Turkey recap editor Diego Cupolo to discuss Turkey’s democratic backsliding, the PKK peace process and Ankara’s Syria policy. This podcast was recorded shortly after a court-appointed trustee took over the leadership of the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) Istanbul provincial headquarters amid wide-spanning corruption investigations into the party.
Don't Trust Erdogan's 'Peace Process' With Turkey's Kurds
Argument An expert’s point of view on a current event. After decades of repression, many of Turkey’s Kurds are hopeful that their long struggle for basic rights may finally be nearing a breakthrough. That hope is fueled by newly launched talks between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s nationalist coalition and the imprisoned leader of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan. The talks have already produced the historic declaration by the PKK to disband and renounce armed struggle.
Trump Is Erdoğan on Steroids
As a scholar of Turkey, I spent years watching President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s rise—and, I’ll admit, I once believed in the promise. I had reservations about his Islamist roots, but his vows to fight corruption, reduce poverty, and expand freedoms seemed like the antidote to Turkey’s democratic fragility. For a moment, it felt like real progress. But in hindsight, those so-called reforms were not designed to strengthen democracy—they were designed to dismantle it from within.
Trump Is Erdoğan on Steroids
As a scholar of Turkey, I spent years watching President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s rise—and, I’ll admit, I once believed in the promise. I had reservations about his Islamist roots, but his vows to fight corruption, reduce poverty, and expand freedoms seemed like the antidote to Turkey’s democratic fragility. For a moment, it felt like real progress. But in hindsight, those so-called reforms were not designed to strengthen democracy—they were designed to dismantle it from within.
Europe can’t repeat its mistakes in Turkey
The writer is director of the Turkey programme at the Middle East Institute and author of ‘Erdoğan’s War: A Strongman’s Struggle at Home...
Turkey is now a full-blown autocracy
Just days before Turkey’s main opposition party was set to select its next presidential candidate, the leading contender, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, was arrested and jailed, effectively removing him from the race. In this brazen act of political suppression, the Turkish government has taken a momentous step toward full-fledged autocracy. The scheme to take Imamoglu out of play was calculated and thorough.
Turkey Is Now a Dictatorship
Just days before Turkey’s main opposition party was set to select its next presidential candidate, the leading contender, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, was arrested and jailed, effectively removing him from the race. In this brazen act of political suppression, the Turkish government has taken a momentous step toward full-fledged autocracy. The scheme to take Imamoglu out of play was calculated and thorough.
Turkey Is Now a Full-Blown Autocracy
Just days before Turkey’s main opposition party was set to select its next presidential candidate, the leading contender, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, was arrested and jailed, effectively removing him from the race. In this brazen act of political suppression, the Turkish government has taken a momentous step toward full-fledged autocracy. The scheme to take Imamoglu out of play was calculated and thorough.
Turkey Is Now a Dictatorship
Just days before Turkey’s main opposition party was set to select its next presidential candidate, the leading contender, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, was arrested and jailed, effectively removing him from the race. In this brazen act of political suppression, the Turkish government has taken a momentous step toward full-fledged autocracy. The scheme to take Imamoglu out of play was calculated and thorough.
Turkey Is Now a Dictatorship
1 day ago Türkiye: Istanbul Sparks Turkey-Wide Protests İstanbul, Türkiye - March 19, 2025 Mass protests demanding the resignation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have escalated, spreading from Istanbul to Ankara, Izmir, Trabzon, and other major cities. Demonstrators are voicing anger over political repression, economic struggles, and the recent detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
In Brief: How Öcalan’s Call to Disarm the PKK Will Affect the Middle East
In February, Abdullah Öcalan — the long-imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) — called on the group to lay down its arms and “dissolve itself” after more than 40 years of fighting Turkish forces. In an initial step, the PKK called for a ceasefire on March 1. In addition to significant implications for politics and security in Turkey, the development affects Kurds in Syria, Iraq, and Iran.
PKK disarmament is a victory for Erdoğan
The writer is director of the Turkey programme at the Middle East Institute and author of ‘Erdoğan’s War: A Strongman’s Struggle at Home...
Erdoğan sees nothing but opportunity in Syria
The writer is director of the Turkey programme at the Middle East Institute and author of ‘Erdoğan’s War: A Strongman’s Struggle at Home...
How Turkey Won the Syrian Civil War
In most capitals across the Middle East, the news of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s fall sparked immense anxiety. Ankara is not one of them. Rather than worrying about Syria’s prospects after more than a decade of conflict, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sees opportunity in a post-Assad future.
Erdoğan has big plans, but the Kurdish problem keeps getting in the way
The writer is director of the Turkey programme at the Middle East Institute and author of ‘Erdoğan’s War: A Strongman’s Struggle at Home...
Gönül Tol yazdı: Akkuyu Nükleer Santrali sadece bölge halkının değil, NATO'nun da sorunu
Bu yazı Financial Times’taki İngilizce metinden Senem Görür Yücel tarafından çevrilmiştir. NATO Genel Sekreteri’ne AKP Genel Başkanı ve Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’ın kendisini en çok kızdıran kararını sorsanız, muhtemelen, Türkiye’nin Rusya’dan S-400 hava savunma sistemi satın alması cevabını verecektir. Ancak NATO’nun Türk-Rus ilişkileri söz konusu olduğunda daha büyük bir sorunu var: Akkuyu Nükleer Güç Santrali.
Nato must wake up to Russia’s nuclear power deal with Turkey
The writer is director of the Turkey programme at the Middle East Institute and author of ‘Erdoğan’s War: A Strongman’s Struggle at Home...
Don’t cut Turkey out of European defence efforts because of Erdoğan
The writer is director of the Turkey programme at the Middle East Institute and author of ‘Erdoğan’s War: A Strongman’s Struggle at Home...
America must continue to make the moral case for democracy
The writer is director of the Turkey programme at the Middle East Institute and author of ‘Erdoğan’s War: A Strongman’s Struggle at Home...
Përmbysja në zgjedhje tregon se Erdoğani është më i prekshëm sesa mendon
Burimi: The Daily Telegraph Përkthimi: Telegrafi.com Kur votuesit turq hodhën votat në zgjedhjet komunale të së dielës, nuk votuan vetëm për kryetarët dhe administratorët e tyre lokalë. Përkundrazi, dërguan mesazh për presidentin Recep Tayyip Erdoğan i cili votimin e ktheu në referendum për qeverisjen e vet.
Election reverses show Erdoğan is more vulnerable than he thinks
The writer is director of the Turkey programme at the Middle East Institute and author of ‘Erdoğan’s War: A Strongman’s Struggle at Home...
A year on from Turkey’s earthquake, devastation continues
More than 3 million people were displaced by the earthquake. Hundreds of thousands of them still live in container houses or tents in arduous conditions. And thousands of others weren’t even given tents, being left to rely on friends or relatives instead. After the earthquake, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had pledged to rebuild the homes that were destroyed within a year. And before the critical May 2023 elections — which he won — construction was proceeding quickly.
Përvoja e Erdoğanit në Turqi është mësim i mirë për ShBA-në përkitazi me Trumpin
Burimi: The Financial Times Përkthimi: Telegrafi.com Për miliona amerikanë, Donald Trumpi – një nga pretendentët kryesorë për zgjedhjet presidenciale të nëntorit – nuk ka bërë shaka kur ka thënë se, nëse rizgjedhet, ai dëshiron të bëhet diktator që në ditën e parë. Në fund të fundit, ishte përpjekur të përmbyste zgjedhjet e vitit 2020, ndërsa mbështetësit e tij sulmuan Kapitolin për ta ndaluar fituesin për ta marrë pushtetin.
Turkey’s Erdoğan experience holds lessons for the US on Trump
The writer is director of the Turkey programme at the Middle East Institute and author of ‘Erdoğan’s War: A Strongman’s Struggle at Home...
Autocracy not reform remains Erdoğan’s recipe for Turkey
The writer is director of the Turkey programme at the Middle East Institute Since Turkey’s presidential election in May, western analysts...
Turkey Election Results: Erdogan Beat Kilicdaroglu by Exploiting Economic, Security Fears
Turkey’s opposition fought the good fight but found itself outgunned in the end. It was not only battling against an autocrat who tilted the battlefield heavily in his favor, but it was also in a fight against other countries’ strongmen, who came to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s aid by transferring billions of dollars to help shore up state coffers drained by preelection handouts.
Wybory w Turcji. Kim jest Kemal Kilicdaroglu, przeciwnik Erdogana?
Postać Kilicdaroglu stoi w ostrym kontraście do stylu Erdogana, który przyniósł mu wśród wielbicieli tytuł reisa, czyli szefa. Poza przeciwstawnymi osobowościami obaj panowie mają jednak również radykalnie różne wizje kraju. Przez lata urzędowania Erdogan scentralizował władzę w swoich rękach, zbudował personalistyczną autokrację i wspierał kult jednostki.
What You Need to Know
Welcome to a world of insight. Make the most of FP. Explore the benefits of your FP subscription. Explore the benefits included in your subscription. Stay updated on the topics you care about with email alerts. Sign up below. Stay updated on the topics you care about with email alerts. Sign up below. Choose a few newsletters that interest you. Get more insight in your inbox. Here are some we think you might like. Update your newsletter preferences. Your guide to the most important world stories of the day.
Turkish Election: Erdogan's Rule Might Actually End This Weekend
Can elections remove an autocrat like Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from power? If you pose this question to Turkey watchers in Western capitals to get their take on the country’s upcoming election, you will get a resounding “no” from a significant number of them. Some will say Erdogan is still very popular—or at least adept at mobilizing his followers.
Subscribe to read | Financial Times
What is included in my trial?
Erdoğan’s Authoritarian Bargain Collapses In Turkey
The writer is author of ‘Erdoğan’s War: A Strongman’s Struggle at Home and in Syria’ Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14 will pose a key question of our time: is it possible to slow authoritarian backsliding and renew democratic progress? At a time of… Read Full Article Here FT
Subscribe to read | Financial Times
What is included in my trial?
Erdoğan’s authoritarian bargain collapses in Turkey
The writer is author of ‘Erdoğan’s War: A Strongman’s Struggle at Home and in Syria’ Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections on...
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, mocny kandydat do pokonania prezydenta Turcji Erdogana
Postać Kilicdaroglu stoi w ostrym kontraście do stylu Erdogana, który przyniósł mu wśród wielbicieli tytuł reisa, czyli szefa. Poza przeciwstawnymi osobowościami obaj panowie mają jednak również radykalnie różne wizje kraju. Przez lata urzędowania Erdogan scentralizował władzę w swoich rękach, zbudował personalistyczną autokrację i wspierał kult jednostki.
Turkey’s ‘Gandhi’ sets his sights on strongman Erdoğan
Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. Gönül Tol is the founding director of the Middle East Institute’s Turkey program. She is the author of “Erdoğan’s War: A Strongman’s Struggle at Home and in Syria.” Turkey’s main opposition party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is everything President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan isn’t.
Turkey's Erdogan Shows Why Strongmen Are Weak
The old idea that autocracies are better than raucous democracies at getting things done found new life during the coronavirus pandemic. Many Western commentators argued that while democracies dithered and debated, autocracies were quick to respond and mobilize their resources. Sometimes that might be true—but only if you are the right kind of autocracy. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Turkey, it turned out, is not one of them. Erdogan’s response to the country’s devastating earthquake on Feb.
Turkiye's deadly earthquake was made deadlier by corruption
In the southern Turkish city of Antakya, Behzat put a blanket and an umbrella over his father, who was trapped under the rubble after one of the most devastating earthquakes in recent history hit the town and destroyed Behzat’s childhood home. He dug his father out with his bare hands and promised the old man, whose legs were stuck under a concrete block, that help was on the way. Twenty-four agonising hours later, Behzat asked his wife, my sister Gokce, to check on him.
How Corruption and Misrule Made Turkey’s Earthquake Deadlier
In the southern Turkish city of Antakya, Behzat put a blanket and an umbrella over his father, who was trapped under the rubble after one of the most devastating earthquakes in recent history hit the town and destroyed Behzat’s childhood home. He dug his father out with his bare hands and promised the old man, whose legs were stuck under a concrete block, that help was on the way. Twenty-four agonizing hours later, Behzat asked his wife, my sister Gokce, to check on him.
Book Review The Disturbing Rise of a Certain Recep Erdogan
Erdogan’s war and the struggle of strongmen at home and in Syria By Gonul Tol Hurt, 30 years old PRESIDENT Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey is a chameleon figure and supreme political operator at home and abroad. This excellent assessment of his political career by Gonul Tol of the Middle East Institute provides valuable insight into the role he plays on the national and international stage.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Gonul
Contact Gonul, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack