Hamdullah Baycar

Hamdullah Baycar is an Assistant Professor at the Department of International Relations at Karadeniz Technical University. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Exeter, an A.M. from Harvard University, and a B.A. from Abant Izzet Baysal University. He has been named to the Middle East Policy Council's 2023 40 Under 40 list. He is currently the book review editor for Insight Turkey and non-resident fellow at Harmoon Center for Contemporary Studies.

China

Why China’s Inaction on Palestine and Iran Weakens its Global Standing

Hamdullah Baycar

Karadeniz, Turkiye (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) – If China wants to rival the United States, it must stop watching and start acting. Beijing wants the world to believe that a new multipolar is possible, one in which U.S. dominance is giving way to a more balanced international order. However, if China truly wishes to […]

Featured

Lebanon at a Crossroads: Can Saudi Arabia Counter Iran’s Waning Influence?

Hamdullah Baycar

Trabzon, Turkey (Special to Informed Comment, Feature) – The recent visit of Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to Lebanon on 23 January marks a critical moment for Saudi Arabia-Lebanon bilateral relations. This visit comes after years of strained relations between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, driven by the ongoing rivalry between Saudi Arabia […]

Featured

Assad’s Fall is a Reminder that Russia is not a Global power but a Regional One

Hamdullah Baycar

Trabzon, Turkey (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) – When former U.S. President Barack Obama referred to Russia as a “regional power” at the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague, he minimized Moscow’s global influence while recognizing its ability to a have an impact on events within its immediate vicinity. Obama further downplayed the notion […]

Donald Trump

What will Trump’s Second Term mean for the Middle East?

Hamdullah Baycar

Trabzon, Turkey (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) – The U.S. presidential elections are among the most consequential for the Middle East, second only to elections within the region itself. Donald Trump secured a substantial victory against the current U.S. Vice President, Kamala Harris. While U.S. elections have always held significance for the Middle East, heightened […]

Bahrain

What does the Gaza Conflict Mean for the UAE, the Abraham Accords and Saudi Normalization?

Hamdullah Baycar

Exeter, UK (Special to Informed Comment; Featured) – When the United Arab Emirates (UAE), along with several Arab states such as Bahrain and Morocco, normalized their relationship with Israel, this was believed to create leverage against Israel. Moreover, the UAE claimed this was their attempt to salvage a two-state solution. Indeed, when the UAE signed […]

Arab World

Expansion of BRICS, the anti-G7, in the Mideast: Is the Oil Gulf no Longer Pax Americana?

Hamdullah Baycar

Exeter (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) – BRICS, a group of five developing countries that include China, Russia, and India, has invited another six countries to join the bloc, making the group 11 if all accept the invitation. Among 40 interested states in membership, of which 22 had already officially asked for admission, BRICS leaders […]

journalism

‘Rightly’ as a New Soft Power Tool: The Motivation behind Al Jazeera’s American Right-Wing Platform

Hamdullah Baycar

Exeter (Special to Informed Comment) – Al Jazeera announcement to launch a right-wing media platform, Rightly, in the US surprised many people, including its employees. Over 100 hundred employees from Al Jazeera penned an open letter to the Al Jazeera administration asking the halt of the platform based on not fitting their ‘values.’ Michael Weaver, […]