Güven Sak, PhD
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The South Caucasus Has Become the Center of the World
Are you aware of how much the world has changed from yesterday to today? Not for better or worse. It simply has. The Strait of Hormuz crisis that emerged after the U.S.…
Expect more turbulence in 2026
2025 was the year the second term of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States started. If Trump’s first term in 2016 signified the discontent in the States, his…
Young Turks are looking for hope
Today’s young Turks desire hope, joy, and the chance for meaningful lives. Make no mistake: this wave of discontent sweeping Turkey is different. It is neither purely…
Turkey's economy is like a sailing ship, going wherever the winds blow it
When it comes to the Turkish economy, it has always been best to take the long view. Have a look at the economic transformation of the country right after the customs…
A different Afghanistan, a different Taliban?
Remember Charlie Wilson’s War ? Tom Hanks is playing the infamous Congressman who singlehandedly increased US funding for the Afghan mujahedeen in their fight against…
Why transition to climate neutrality is more complex than you think
If you jump to 2050 directly from today, economic models indicate that the world will be fine. Technology and economic growth eventually even out the earth’s population,…
China and Turkey after 9/11
I was in my Office at the Central Bank of Turkey, preparing for a meeting with the IMF team when the first plane hit the Twin Towers. So much has changed since, and the…
Is the transformative power of Europe back?
Enlargement used to be the superpower of Europe. It was like the reverse of migration – instead of individuals leaving their countries and moving to Europe, it moved…
The Problem with Afghan Reconstruction
After spending around $40 billion a year, the Americans have realized the futility of their efforts in nation building in Afghanistan. Nothing much has changed in the…
Afghanistan, but without the Americans
In April, President Biden announced his decision to leave Afghanistan. He was ending America’s “forever wars” in order to focus on what the Department of Defense calls a…
Confronting disaster statelessly
Beirutis are no strangers to earth-shattering explosions. Stories of airstrikes, even car bombs will not be too rare among the city’s inhabitants. Yet there is an…
Good for Europe, bad for the rest?
The Green Deal was first announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in December 2019. This “jobs and growth agenda for Europe” was the talk of the…