Sinan Ciddi is a non-resident senior fellow at FDD and an expert on Turkish domestic politics and foreign policy.
He is also an Associate Professor of National Security Studies at Marine Corps University (MCU). Prior to joining MCU, Sinan was the Executive Director of the Institute of Turkish Studies, based at Georgetown University (2011-2020). Between 2008-2011 he established the Turkish Studies program at the University of Florida’s Center for European Studies. He continues to serve as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
Sinan was born in Turkey and educated in the United Kingdom. He was previously an instructor at Sabanci University between 2004-2008 and completed his Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the same institution between 2007-2008. Distinct from his articles and opinion editorials, his book titled Kemalism in Turkish Politics: The Republican People’s Party: Secularism and Nationalism (Routledge, January 2009) focuses on the electoral weakness of the Republican People’s Party.
He obtained his Ph.D. from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London in 2007 in the field of Political Science. He continues to author scholarly articles, opinion pieces and book chapters on contemporary Turkish politics and foreign policy, as well as participate in media appearances.
Latest posts by Sinan Ciddi
How not to dethrone an authoritarian leader: The case of Turkey’s Erdoğan
What explains Erdogan's prolonged hold on power, despite dire economics and increasing authoritarian and unpopular rule? Society-wide aversion to political activism and suspicion towards criticism of the government.
Turkey is committed to undermining NATO
"Hesitation to hold Turkey accountable is partially understandable. NATO was created to counter the systemic threat posed by the Soviet Union. It has no developed mechanisms to counter internal threats ..."
Turkey's Erdoğan reigns supreme at hypocrisy and double-speak
If Erdoğan believed Israel to be the “terror” state he accuses it of being, committing genocide which even “Hitler would have been jealous of,” why does Turkey continue business ties?
How Turkey’s opposition media empowers Erdoğan
President Erdoğan and his government are not the sole players in helping to consolidate the country’s democratic dismemberment. The danger comes from the very circles who despise his regime the most.
Turkey's Erdoğan Silences Critics with “FETO” Terrorist Label
To date, tens of thousands of Turkish citizens have been accused of being FETO members, resulting in the loss of their jobs, possessions, livelihoods, and in many cases, their freedom.
How Turkey’s opposition elite enabled Erdoğan and misled voters
Ahead of and during Turkey's general elections in May 2023, much of the influential opposition media outlets, with its commentators and journalists, were in a state of euphoria.
Are Istanbul's Boğaziçi University protests an expression of exceptionalism?
“What would make Erdoğan's life increasingly difficult would be for academia as a whole in Turkey to unify around a single platform and pursue vociferously a rigorous set of demands …”
