Research Interests
My current research focuses broadly on Turkey's domestic and foreign policies. In the realm of foreign policy, this includes Turkey's regional role, uses of soft power and resulting identity shifts. In the domestic arena, my research has been related to the Kurdish issue and political Islam. In addtion, I maintain my interest in civil-military relations in transitional democracies.
A related secondary theme using Turkey as a case is the role of rising powers in peacebuilding and humanitarianism.
Background
Languages spoken:
English, Norwegian, Turkish, French, Spanish
Working experience:
1998–Present: Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
Aug 2013 - Present: Senior Researcher, based in Brazil
2011–Aug 2013: Research Director, Dimensions of Security
2010–2011: Programme Leader, Conflict Resolution and Peace Building
2009–2010: Senior Researcher
1998–2009: Research, Security Programme
1995–1997: Reseacher, Center for European and Asian Studies, Norwegian School of Management, BI.
1993–1995: Various positions including Teaching, translation and personal assistance.
Academic visitorships:
2003 - Fulbright research scholarship, Georgetown University, Washington.
2001 (October) - Visiting Research fellow at Centre for Eurasian Strategic Studies (ASAM) in Ankara, Turkey.
Education:
2009 - Dr. Philos. in Political Science, University of Oslo/PRIO.
Dissertation title: Turkey's military élite at a crossroad: Paths to desecuritisation?"
1993 - Master of Philosophy in International Relations - Security Studies, University of St. Andrews, Scotland.
M.Phil thesis: “Ecofeminism: Critique or critical theory?”
1990 - Bachelor of Arts Honours in French and Politics (including one year spent at Literature Faculty of Université de Nantes, France as part of French language degree). University of Keele, England.
Blog Posts
Note: On 18 March 2016, the EU and Turkey agreed on a deal to stop refugees from crossing the Mediterranean. At that time, Maria Gabrielsen Jumbert and Pinar Tank warned that the agreement was advantageous for Europe and Turkey but not for the refugees whose rights to protection were severely ... Read more »
Posted by Pinar Tank on Friday, 23 February 2018
Turkey’s military incursion into Kurdish-controlled northern Syria risks straining diplomatic ties and exposing Turkey to increased terror threats. The Turkish offensive on Afrin that began on January 20 had long been anticipated. But while the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) may hope this campaign can drum up anti-Kurdish nationalism ... Read more »
Posted by Pinar Tank on Monday, 29 May 2017
Despite tensions over Syria, Turkey is increasingly turning to Russia to secure its foreign and domestic policy needs. Though anticipated, the May 9 announcement by the Donald Trump administration that the United States would arm fighters of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in preparation for an advance on the ... Read more »
The agreement reflects the EU’s self-interest just as much as Turkey’s, but takes little account of the interests and rights of the refugees. On Friday 18 March, Turkey and the EU concluded a deal designed to put an end to refugees’ use of the sea route to travel from Turkey ... Read more »
Posted by Pinar Tank on Monday, 17 August 2015
Two months is a long time in politics – even more so in Turkish politics. At the beginning of June, the Turkish election brought a wave of hope across the country with results that broke the majoritarian (and authoritarian) rule of the reigning Justice and Development Party (AKP). The pro-Kurdish ... Read more »
Posted by Pinar Tank on Friday, 5 June 2015
With only days to go before legislative elections in Turkey on Sunday, 7 June, the political uncertainty of its possible outcomes are filling newspaper columns. This is a change from the past two elections where a victory for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) was almost a foregone conclusion. ... Read more »
Posted by Pinar Tank on Friday, 20 March 2015
In Rio de Janeiro, when the going gets tough, the tough… often go to the beach. The expanse of blue shoreline lined with small botecos (bars) is a sanctuary from the troubles of everyday life and according to some Cariocas – natives of Rio – the explanation for their relaxed ... Read more »
Posted by Pinar Tank on Thursday, 5 June 2014
In August 2011 Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan took his family, his foreign minister, and an entourage of cabinet members to visit Somalia as part of a humanitarian mission to highlight the plight of 12 million Somali victims of drought. The visit was symbolically important, as Erdoğan travelled to Mogadishu, the ... Read more »
Posted by Pinar Tank on Friday, 23 May 2014
As the rescue operation into Turkey´s worst industrial accident came to end on Saturday, 17 May, the number of dead was confirmed at 301 (of 787) with scores still unaccounted for. PRIO researcher Pinar Tank has published a post the New Middle East Blog 23 May 2014. Read more »
Posted by Pinar Tank on Friday, 7 March 2014
One of the foundational concepts of good democratic governance is that of a separation of powers. French Enlightenment philosopher Baron de Montesquieu´s argument for the separation of political power between the three branches – executive, legislative and judiciary – hinges on the notion that power should not be centralized in ... Read more »