As noted in the first episode, this series is based on my observations in many different settings, not necessarily happening in my own department. In fact, I am relatively lucky to be there, exposed to fewer troubles than I usually observe. “These meetings are so valuable,” a colleague proclaimed at the conclusion of yet another … Read more
Key Insights for Why Western Designs Fail in Developing Countries by Merlin AI Cultural Misunderstandings in Design – Designers often fail to grasp the cultural nuances of the communities they aim to serve, leading to designs that do not resonate with local needs. – The Neon Nurture incubator, despite its innovative features, was perceived as … Read more
Global reactions to Israel’s interception and attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla have been overwhelmingly critical, with widespread condemnation, protests, and calls for accountability from governments, international organizations, and civil society across multiple continents.wikipedia+2 Continuously updated Wikipedia entry: Global Sumud Flotilla Widespread Protests Protests erupted immediately in cities across Europe (including Rome, Berlin, Barcelona, Brussels, and … Read more
Intentionally or not, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has publicly blamed US congressional restrictions for stalling the delivery of the necessary engines, threatening to delay serial production of the KAAN jet, which was promoted as another artifact of the Turkish sovereign defense industry. Although experts were already aware of the engine issue, many lay citizens … Read more
Dear readers, One’s deadline is already here, and the other’s soon. I can still accept if you are a few days late. Here is the full post. Here is the post for this one, which is due for 15 October.
I have revised my syllabus and replaced some readings with more recent ones. I like to frequently update my readings so that I can stay current with the latest research. I might have missed some topics, but I am satisfied with what I have come up with. There has been a rising- and unsurprising- interest … Read more
On September 8–9, 2025, when the movement’s main vessel, the “Family Boat,” was reportedly struck by what organizers claim was a drone while docked at the port of Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia. The Sumud Flotilla is a large, multinational civil society initiative launched in 2025 to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza by sea. … Read more
Turkey has lost a great person, historian, and intellectual. I did not have the chance to meet him much, except for greetings on campus. Rest in peace, Prof. Tunçay. Prof. Dr. Mete Tunçay: An Intellectual Biography A Pioneer of Political Thought History in Turkey (1936-2025) Professor Mete Tunçay, who passed away on August 18, 2025, … Read more
I am glad to be part of this project. Our report is authored by Anmol Alphonso, Sérgio Barbosa, Cayley Clifford, Kiran Garimella, Elonnai Hickok, Martin Riedl, Erkan Saka, Herman Wasserman, Sahana Udupa. The full policy report is available here. The book, WhatsApp in the World: Disinformation, Encryption and Extreme Speech (New York University Press, 2025), … Read more
If things go well, our doctoral program at Bilgi University will become a center of intellectual attention. I have recently shared with you a call about the data politics volume. This is another book concept that emerged from my doctoral course, “Theories of New Media.” Most of the book’s content is already ready, thanks to … Read more
This is a lengthy and thoroughly discussed entry. Click here to read: Gaza genocide This article is about the characterisation of ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza. For accusations throughout the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, see Palestinian genocide accusation. For allegations against Hamas, see Allegations of genocide in the October 7 attacks. According to a United Nations Special … Read more
via Kottke.org The research was conducted by Karmvir K. Padda, who is a researcher and PhD candidate in Sociology at the University of Waterloo. Padda specializes in digital extremism and gender-based violence and receives research funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. The University of Waterloo is also listed as a partner for … Read more
This is a book project I have been thinking about for over six months, and I’ve finally made it public. The book idea emerged from our doctoral seminars in İstanbul. It also aligns with my plan to conduct an ethnography of Turkish LLM development. The CFP borrows vocabulary from the recent decolonial literature but is … Read more
Celil Öker, one of the masters of Turkish crime fiction who passed away in 2019, told stories of the loneliness of cities and the new middle class, extending beyond murder, in his novels. We have discussed at SosyalKafa a newly defended PhD thesis: Elif Otluoğlu Kısa’s YENİK VE YALNIZ (Defeated and Alone): AN ANALYSIS OF … Read more
After a long hiatus, Sinem and I streamed a new video at SosyalKafa. This was an update to our academic AI tools stream that took a few years ago. It is in Turkish, but a lengthy summary in English is available here. Artificial Intelligence and Academic Tools Artificial intelligence has become an important tool in … Read more