Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · 6h

It moves beyond the victim binary to show how repression, co-optation, and resistance intertwine. It is rich in theory & fieldwork, extremly reflexive, introduces the “twin transformation” of civil society in Turkey revealing how autocratisation restructures, not destroys, civic life.

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · 6h

Really enjoyed reading Bilge Yabanci's book on civil society & autocratisation.

The book starts with these words: "Real dialogue isn’t about talking to people who believe the same things as you.’
from Zygmunt Bauman.

edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-civil-s...

Civil Society and Autocratisation

edinburghuniversitypress.com

1 1 3

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · 6d

Druze groups have set up a de facto military and governmental body in Sweida, similar to the Kurdish-led authorities in the country’s northeast. apnews.com/article/syri...

Druze seek Sweida autonomy and turn toward Israel, adding new twist to Syria's tensions

When Syrian government forces entered the minority Druze enclave of Sweida this summer, it backfired.

apnews.com

4 4

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · 6d

www.npr.org/sections/cod...

This List Of Books, Films And Podcasts About Racism Is A Start, Not A Panacea

We've compiled a list of places you can go to learn more about systemic racism — acknowledging that, while it's important to have information, this list is not a prescription.

www.npr.org

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · 10d

In one of her public interviews in the 70s Arendt stated: “If everybody always lies to you, the consequence is not that you believe the lies, but rather that nobody believes anything any longer…”

medium.com/amor-mundi/t...

The Tyranny of Lies

by Roger Berkowitz

medium.com

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · 10d

Useful episode to understand Belarus’ foreign policy under Russian pressure, tensions around the Zapad 2025 drills, with the prospects for dialogue, reform, and a post-Lukashenka future. www.crisisgroup.org/europe-centr...

Elliptical Orbit? Belarusian Foreign Policy in Fraught Times | International Crisis Group

This week on War & Peace, Olga and Elissa speak with Valery Kavaleuski, former Belarusian diplomat and Executive Director of the Euro-Atlantic Affairs Agency, about Minsk’s foreign policy, its recent ...

www.crisisgroup.org

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · 12d

Maduro Calls U.S. Attack on Boat ‘A Heinous Crime.’ Then Trump Announces Another. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/w...

Maduro Calls U.S. Attack on Boat ‘A Heinous Crime.’ Then Trump Announces Another.

www.nytimes.com

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · 15d

Why people reclaim words meant to insult them – and how this has become a powerful tool for protest
theconversation.com/why-people-r...

Why people reclaim words meant to insult them – and how this has become a powerful tool for protest

Saying ‘yes, I’m queer’ or ‘yes, I’m fat’ isn’t just resistance, it can be the start of a political identity.

theconversation.com

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · 18d

He notes: escalation in Sudan and the Sahel demonstrates how drones are reshaping battlefields; both governments and militias are building drone arsenals, including swarming and kamikaze systems; and the availability of small commercial drones is lowering the entry barrier for insurgents.

1

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · 18d

An important point about drone proliferation is that while drones are rapidly transforming Africa’s armed conflicts by providing cheap airpower, surveillance, and tactical advantages, their spread also brings destabilising consequences, argues Nate Allen. africacenter.org/spotlight/dr...

Military Drone Proliferation Marks Destabilizing Shift in Africa’s Armed Conflicts – Africa Center

A revolution in unmanned drone systems is reshaping conflicts in Africa, providing militaries tactical advantages but also risks.

africacenter.org

1 1

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · 18d

english.elpais.com/internationa...

In Colombia, ‘false positives’ ruling paves the way for new convictions

Three colonels from the La Popa Battalion and other high-ranking officers face trials that could see them sentenced to 20 years

english.elpais.com

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · 20d

A good review of what is going on. open.substack.com/pub/turkeylo...

CHP Fights Back: 72 Hours of Tactical Wars Against Erdoğan’s Siege

Thousands of delegates are pushing CHP to an extraordinary congress to outmaneuver a civil court that ignored the YSK, and the move inspires a legal challenge to annul the 2017 referendum.

open.substack.com

2 3

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · 20d

Looking forward to watching it. www.theguardian.com/film/2025/se...

‘They told me what their bodies had lived through’: how Syrian vigilantes inspired new thriller Ghost Trail

Director Jonathan Millet contacted a secret cell that hunts down Assad’s collaborators while researching a new film. He soon realised that it could not be a documentary …

www.theguardian.com

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · 21d

Kayaoglu notes that Spain abandoned its F-35 plans due to cost, restrictions & a preference for European industries. While there is no official interest, delays in European projects could make Turkey’s Kaan a viable option, with ongoing Hurjet trainer cooperation. www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

Will Spain’s exit from US F-35 program open the door for Turkey’s fighter fleet?

As Madrid abandons its F-35 acquisition, some analysts say Turkey’s fifth-generation Kaan could be a medium term addition to Spain's fighter fleet.

www.al-monitor.com

Reposted by Begum Zorlu

Global Disorder Research Group @global-disorder.bsky.social · 22d

In the AI age, truth is contested. How do we tell truth tellers from tricksters?

Join us, City’s Institute for Creativity & AI, & @indexoncensorship.org for a timely panel focusing on AI, & the crisis of trust.

🗓 Wed 1 Oct, 6pm
⬇️ More details

globaldisorder.uk/2025/09/16/t...

Panel Discussion: Truth, trust and tricksters in the age of AI

Illustration by Tatyana Zelenskaya. The Global Disorder Group at the Department of International Politics, in collaboration with Index on Censorship and the Institute for Creativity and AI at City,…

globaldisorder.uk

2 7

Reposted by Begum Zorlu

Global Disorder Research Group @global-disorder.bsky.social · 22d

📢 Call for Papers | Brazilian Journal of International Politics, Spring 2026 Special Issue

Theme: How to make sense of global disorder from the Global South?

We invite theoretical, methodological & topical contributions.

🗓 Deadline: 30 Oct 2025

⬇️ More info: globaldisorder.uk/2025/09/12/c...

1 3

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · 24d

“in just one night, Russia sent more than 800 exploding drones and decoys swarming across the border.

The drastic increase is a result of huge production jumps in Russia for one-way attack drones.”

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · 24d

Russia Made Drone Production a Supreme Priority. Now It Swarms the Skies. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/w...

Russia Made Drone Production a Supreme Priority. Now It Swarms the Skies.

www.nytimes.com

2

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · 24d

Russia Made Drone Production a Supreme Priority. Now It Swarms the Skies. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/w...

Russia Made Drone Production a Supreme Priority. Now It Swarms the Skies.

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Begum Zorlu

PSA Turkish Politics Specialist Group @psaturkish.bsky.social · Sep 2

We invite submissions for the Autumn 2025 Turkish Politics Online Workshops co-convened by @aykutozturk.bsky.social @digdemsoyaltin.bsky.social

The series provides an opportunity for feedback on working papers with the aim of supporting junior scholars

See 👇
psaturkishpolitics.uk/2025/09/01/c...

Call for Submissions: Autumn 2025 Turkish Politics Online Workshops by PSA’s Turkish Politics Specialist Group

The Turkish Politics Specialist Group of the Political Studies Association invites submissions for the Autumn 2025 Turkish Politics Online Workshops, co-convened by Dr Aykut Ozturk (University of G…

psaturkishpolitics.uk

5 5

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · Sep 1

The Turkish Politics Specialist Group of the Political Studies Association invites submissions for the Autumn 2025 Turkish Politics Online Workshops, co-convened by Dr Aykut Ozturk (University of Glasgow) and Dr Digdem Soyaltin-Colella (University of Aberdeen).

psaturkishpolitics.uk/2025/09/01/c...

Call for Submissions: Autumn 2025 Turkish Politics Online Workshops by PSA’s Turkish Politics Specialist Group

The Turkish Politics Specialist Group of the Political Studies Association invites submissions for the Autumn 2025 Turkish Politics Online Workshops, co-convened by Dr Aykut Ozturk (University of G…

psaturkishpolitics.uk

1 2

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · Aug 31

On what lies behind Erdogan's "Turkey is bigger than Turkey" rhetoric. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fc0...

Erdoğan'ın yolu Türkiye'yi nereye götürüyor?

YouTube video by DW Türkçe

www.youtube.com

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · Aug 31

youtu.be/7AB300pI6JA?...

Arundhati Roy: How to Survive Authoritarianism | The Interview

YouTube video by The Interview

youtu.be

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · Aug 31

“We have Nigel Farage explicitly saying that asylum seekers are a threat to “our women and girls” and national security. It’s a short step from there to “vigilantes” being emboldened to harass anyone of colour in the vicinity of an asylum hotel or detention camp.” www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Labour must debunk Farage’s migrant myths | Letters

Letters: We are on the road to serious racial conflict, says Simon Rew. Plus letters from Paula Jones, Raj Parkash, Kevin Lloyd, Dr Ian Flintoff and Robert McNulty

www.theguardian.com

1

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · Aug 25

On reparatory justice recorded at City St George’s.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/r...

Empire, Slavery, and Reparations

Podcast Episode · Radicals in Conversation · 18/08/2025 · 1h

podcasts.apple.com

Begum Zorlu @begumzorlu.bsky.social · Aug 25

One of the best podcats on the topic. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

Push-Backs in the Aegean and the ECtHR’s failure to hold states accountable for systemic human rights violations

Podcast Episode · The Human Rights Podcast · 19/08/2025 · 48m

podcasts.apple.com

1 2