Dr. Ali Baydarol completed his PhD in political science at Sabancı University. During the 2024-2025 academic year, he was a visiting doctoral researcher in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago. His work has been published in Southeast European and Black Sea Studies, Turkish Studies, Springer Nature, and Middle Eastern Studies. His manuscript “Crisis-Stimulated Change: Rapid Privatization During Times of Dual Crisis in Turkey and Slovenia” received the Prof. Dr. Nermin Abadan Unat Best Article Prize from the Turkish Political Science Association in 2023. He received the First Year Teaching Assistant Award at Sabancı University in 2021.

The Political Economy of EU-Turkey Relations Amid the War in Ukraine: Challenges and Opportunities

The war in Ukraine has increased the relevance of stronger EU-Türkiye cooperation. This project explores the challenges and opportunities for both parties to enhance cooperation in two central political economy dimensions: (1) the Turkish-German automotive supply chain; and (2) Turkey’s role in the EU’s efforts to diversify its energy suppliers.

Despite solid Türkiye-Germany trade driven primarily by the automotive sector, Türkiye’s well-developed spare parts industry, and the presence of the EU-Türkiye Customs Union, German automobile firms that had production plants in Russia before the war have failed to consider establishing production plants in Türkiye. Moreover, amid the war, the EU has intensified its efforts to diversify its energy suppliers. What have been the main barriers behind expanding cooperation in these areas? To what extent are capacity expansions in TAP, TANAP, and the South Caucasus Pipeline technically and politically feasible, and what role does Türkiye’s position as a transit country play in shaping these constraints? What role can Türkiye’s recent quest for LNG play in the EU’s energy security? These questions will be addressed in this project through semi-structured interviews and content analysis.