Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research
{{Short description|Turkish think-tank}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Foundation for Political Economic and Social Research
| abbreviation = SETA
| formation = {{start date and age|2006}}
| logo = Seta-logo.png
| type = Public policy think tank
| headquarters = Nene Hatun Cad. No: 66 GOP, 06700
| coordinates = {{coord}}
| location = Çankaya, Ankara
| leader_title = General Coordinator
| leader_name = Nebi Miş{{Cite web |title=Nebi Miş |url=https://www.setav.org/en/experts/nebi-mis |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=SETA |language=en, tr}}
| website = {{Official website |https://www.setav.org/en/}}
}}
The Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research ({{langx|tr|Siyaset, Ekonomi ve Toplum Araştırmaları Vakfı, SETA}}) is a policy think-tank based in Ankara, Turkey. It was established in 2006 with the objective of producing "up-to-date and accurate knowledge and analyses in the fields of politics, economy and society" and informing "policy makers and the public on changing political, economic, social and cultural conditions." Its general coordinator has been Burhanettin Duran since 2014. The group describes itself as independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan,{{Cite web |url=http://setav.org/About |title=About SETA | SETA |access-date=2015-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806175053/http://setav.org/About |archive-date=2015-08-06 |url-status=dead }} but is described by Deutsche Welle as being controlled by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/opinion-whats-next-for-journalism-in-the-erdogan-era/a-49554127-0|title=Opinion: What's next for journalism in the Erdogan era? {{!}} DW {{!}} 11.07.2019|website=DW.COM|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-07-11}}
It has offices in Istanbul, Washington, D.C.,{{Cite web|url=https://setadc.org/|title=Home|website=SETA Foundation at Washington DC}} and Cairo, and produces an academic journal on Turkey, Insight Turkey.
Relationship with AKP and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Despite claiming to be independent, SETA has close relations with AKP government led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan and accordingly organized many academic panels to legitimize official policies of the AKP.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/dusluyor-dusunuyor-ve-karar-aldiriyorlar-17844234|title=Düşlüyor, düşünüyor ve karar aldırıyorlar|first=Cansu ÇAMLIBEL FOTOĞRAFLAR: Sebati KARAKURT-Volkan YILDIRIM- Emre|last=YUNUSOĞLU|date=May 22, 2011|website=www.hurriyet.com.tr}} Close political affiliations and single-sided viewpoints have led to the group being frequently labelled "AKP’s think tank" or "pro-government," in reference to the country's leading party whose position it backs, by Western media.{{cite news|last1=Barchard|first1=David|title=With US no longer trusted, Turkey and Saudi forge new alliance|url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/regional-tensions-push-saudi-arabia-and-turkey-towards-closer-ties-236369218|accessdate=18 August 2016|publisher=Middle East Eye|date=13 April 2016}}{{cite news|title=Erdogan faces future of power sharing|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34641532|accessdate=18 August 2016|publisher=BBC News|date=27 October 2015}}
Some of the current and former SETA members are also serving as high-ranking officials for the presidential system of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and are also columnists for pro-AKP newspapers. İbrahim Kalın, the founding director of the SETA, is now a chief adviser to the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and also the Presidential Spokesperson since 2014 and was a columnist for the leading pro-AKP newspaper Sabah.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mei.edu/profile/ibrahim-kalin|title=İbrahim Kalın|website=Middle East Institute}} Fahrettin Altun, former Istanbul General Coordinator of SETA & Deputy General Coordinator of SETA is now serving as the Presidential Head of Communication and was a columnist for the pro-AKP newspaper Sabah. Burhanettin Duran, general coordinator of SETA is also a member of the Presidential Security and Foreign Policy Board and is a columnist for the pro-AKP newspaper Sabah. Muhammet Mücahit Küçükyılmaz, former communication coordinator of SETA is now serving as a chief adviser to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and was a columnist for the pro-AKP newspaper Sabah. Hatice Karahan, who did economics research for SETA is now serving as an economic advisor to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and was a columnist for the pro-AKP newspaper Yeni Şafak.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/koseyazisi/1475798/Saray_daki__SETA_lobisi_ni_ne_zaman_konusacagiz_.html|title = Saray'daki 'SETA lobisi'ni ne zaman konuşacağız?}}
In early July 2019, SETA published a 202-page report titled "International Media Outlets' Extensions in Turkey",{{Cite web|url=https://www.setav.org/rapor-uluslararasi-medya-kuruluslarinin-turkiye-uzantilari/|title=Rapor: Uluslararası Medya Kuruluşlarının Türkiye Uzantıları|year=2019}} which caused great controversy both in Turkey and abroad. The report provided individual names and professional backgrounds of Turkish journalists working in institutions such as Euronews in Turkish, BBC Turkish, Deutsche Welle Turkish, Voice of America (Voice of America), Sputnik Turkey, CRI Turkey, and the Independent Turkish. It also provided examples of the news that journalists share on social media and accused members of the press of having an anti-government bias. Journalism associations and unions have condemned the report, saying it targeted journalists. The Turkish Union of Journalists (TGS) has said that it plans to file a criminal complaint about the report.{{Cite web|url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/07/08/turkish-think-tank-report-condemned-for-profiling-turkish-journalists-working-for-foreign|title = Turkish think tank report condemned for profiling Turkish journalists|date = 8 July 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/turkish-journalists-legal-action-blacklisting-report-190708085246239.html|title = Turkish journalists take legal action over 'blacklisting' report}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/press-union-turkey-think-tank-study-is-blacklisting-document/a-49505383|title=Press union: Turkey think tank study is 'blacklisting document' | DW | 07.07.2019|website=Deutsche Welle}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2019/07/pro-state-think-tank-turkey-targets-foreign-media.html|title=Pro-state think tank targets foreign media in Turkey - Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East|date=July 8, 2019|website=www.al-monitor.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/turkey-union-slams-report-for-blacklisting-foreign-media/2019/07/07/9bda2fec-a0af-11e9-a767-d7ab84aef3e9_story.html|title=Turkey: Union slams report for blacklisting foreign media - The Washington Post|newspaper=The Washington Post |date=July 7, 2019|access-date=June 25, 2021|archive-date=July 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707140916/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/turkey-union-slams-report-for-blacklisting-foreign-media/2019/07/07/9bda2fec-a0af-11e9-a767-d7ab84aef3e9_story.html|url-status=dead}} The BBC made the following announcement about the report on Twitter: "The BBC also rejects the allegations in this report. The 'blacklisting' of journalists is completely unacceptable. It is vital that journalists can work freely, without threats and intimidation and the Turkish authorities must ensure media freedom."{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler-turkiye-48909150|title = BBC: Gazetecilerin 'fişlenmesi' kesinlikle kabul edilemez|newspaper = BBC News Türkçe}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Turkey–United States relations}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2006 establishments in Turkey
Category:Think tanks based in Turkey