Turkey after the coup attempt

This IFS Insight examines the 15 July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey and its implications for relations between the Turkish military, government and society

Tilting towards Russia, but anchored in NATO. Turkey’s foreign policy activism and its implications

Turkey strengthened ties with Russia after the military coup attempt on July 15, 2016, triggering widespread concerns that Ankara is ‘drifting away’ from NATO. In this article, we argue that although a rapprochement has taken place, there is no Turkish realignment with Russia. Furthermore, an exit from NATO is regarded as unlikely. However, with its pursuit of greater strategic autonomy, Ankara risks marginalisation within NATO and could become a second-tier member of the allianc

Consultations and antibiotic treatment for urinary tract infections in Norwegian primary care 2006–2015, a registry-based study

Background Extensive use of antibiotics and the resulting emergence of antimicrobial resistance is a major health concern globally. In Norway, 82% of antibiotics is prescribed in primary care and one in four prescriptions are issued for the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTI). The aim of this study was to investigate time trends in antibiotic treatment following a consultation for UTI in primary care. Methods For the period 2006–2015 we linked data from the Norwegian Registry for Control and Payment of Health Reimbursements on all patient consultations for cystitis and pyelonephritis in general practice and out-of-hours (OOH) services, and data from the Norwegian Prescription Database on all dispensed prescriptions of antibiotics. Results Altogether 2,426,643 consultations by attendance for UTI took place in the study period, of these 94.5% for cystitis and 5.5% for pyelonephritis. Of all UTI consultations, 79.4% were conducted in general practice and 20.6% in OOH services. From 2006 to 2015, annual numbers of cystitis and pyelonephritis consultations increased by 33.9 and 14.0%, respectively. The proportion of UTI consultations resulting in an antibiotic prescription increased from 36.6 to 65.7% for cystitis, and from 35.3 to 50.7% for pyelonephritis. These observed changes occurred gradually over the years. Cystitis was mainly treated with pivmecillinam (53.9%), followed by trimethoprim (20.8%). For pyelonephritis, pivmecillinam was most frequently used (43.0%), followed by ciprofloxacin (20.5%) and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (16.3%). For cystitis, the use of pivmecillinam increased the most during the study period (from 46.1 to 56.6%), and for pyelonephritis, the use of sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (from 11.4 to 25.5%) followed by ciprofloxacin (from 18.2 to 23.1%). Conclusions During the 10-year study period there was a considerable increase in the proportion of UTI consultations resulting in antibiotic treatment. Cystitis was most often treated with pivmecillinam, and this proportion increased during the study period. Treatment of pyelonephritis was characterized by more use of broader-spectrum antibiotics, use of both sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and ciprofloxacin increased during the study period. These trends, indicative of enduring changes in consultation and treatment patterns for UTIs, will have implications for future antibiotic stewardship measures and policy.publishedVersio

The Turkish armed forces in politics

Entrusted by law with the dual task of protecting the state and guarding its founding principles, the Turkish military has played a decisive role in shaping the political course since the founding of the republic of Turkey in 1923. However, since the turn of the millennium, and in particular after 2002 when the religious-conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power, the character of civil–military relations in Turkey changed. Formerly the relationship was characterized by relatively weak civil-political institutions, on the one hand, and a strong military institution on the other. Over the last ten years, however, power relations have clearly changed in favour of the civilian institutions. This issue of IFS Insight explores various explanations for the changes that have taken place in civil-military relations in Turkey since 2000, including the EU-accession process, changes in national threat perceptions, a period with strong civilian governments, the emergence of new elite groups, and changes both in the opinion of senior military officers and among the public concerning military intervention in politics. Against this background the issue also discusses if the military’s traditional guardianship role in Turkish politics is over

The Fortunes of Islamist Movements in Egypt and Turkey 1970-1995 : Fortunes of Islamist Movements in Egypt and Turkey 1970-1995

THE FORTUNES OF ISLAMIST MOVEMENTS IN EGYPT AND TURKEY 1970-1995. The question asked in the dissertation is why Islamist movements have been stronger in Egypt than in Turkey during the last twenty-five years. The research objective is not only to explain why strong opposition movements have emerged in Egypt, but also why opposition is taking an Islamist form. Three theoretical propositions, all focusing on changes in structural factors during the 1970-1995 period, are tested across the two cases to investigate the stated difference between them. The method applied is a structured focused comparison, a modified version of the basic research strategies in comparative analysis, in which cases are compared on limited depth, focusing only on a small number of variables. Findings in the dissertation indicate that the difference in Islamist strength between Egypt and Turkey can be explained by differences in socioeconomic performance, the nature of political institutions and the social mobility of young educated groups. Concerning the question of why opposition is taking an Islamist form, it is argued that Islamist movements can be seen as a struggle for symbolic power (that is the right to define which paradigm should be used for interpreting and solving the problems of the modern world), going on between the young intelligentsia, still rooted in indigenous Muslim tradition, and the ruling 'Westernised' elites

Egypt etter Hosni Mubarak

Hosni Mubarak har styrt Egypt siden 1981. Ikke siden Muhammed ’ Ali hersket i landet på begynnelsen av 1800-tallet har Egypt opplevd et så stabilt styre. Men Mubarak er 76 år, og et presidentskifte vil komme innen få år. Hvem etterfølger Hosni Mubarak som egyptisk president? Og hvilke følger vil et presidentskifte ha for landets innenriks- og utenrikspolitikk

Tilting towards Russia, but anchored in NATO. Turkey’s foreign policy activism and its implications

Turkey strengthened ties with Russia after the military coup attempt on July 15, 2016, triggering widespread concerns that Ankara is ‘drifting away’ from NATO. In this article, we argue that although a rapprochement has taken place, there is no Turkish realignment with Russia. Furthermore, an exit from NATO is regarded as unlikely. However, with its pursuit of greater strategic autonomy, Ankara risks marginalisation within NATO and could become a second-tier member of the allianc

Consultations and antibiotic treatment for urinary tract infections in Norwegian primary care 2006–2015, a registry-based study

Background Extensive use of antibiotics and the resulting emergence of antimicrobial resistance is a major health concern globally. In Norway, 82% of antibiotics is prescribed in primary care and one in four prescriptions are issued for the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTI). The aim of this study was to investigate time trends in antibiotic treatment following a consultation for UTI in primary care. Methods For the period 2006–2015 we linked data from the Norwegian Registry for Control and Payment of Health Reimbursements on all patient consultations for cystitis and pyelonephritis in general practice and out-of-hours (OOH) services, and data from the Norwegian Prescription Database on all dispensed prescriptions of antibiotics. Results Altogether 2,426,643 consultations by attendance for UTI took place in the study period, of these 94.5% for cystitis and 5.5% for pyelonephritis. Of all UTI consultations, 79.4% were conducted in general practice and 20.6% in OOH services. From 2006 to 2015, annual numbers of cystitis and pyelonephritis consultations increased by 33.9 and 14.0%, respectively. The proportion of UTI consultations resulting in an antibiotic prescription increased from 36.6 to 65.7% for cystitis, and from 35.3 to 50.7% for pyelonephritis. These observed changes occurred gradually over the years. Cystitis was mainly treated with pivmecillinam (53.9%), followed by trimethoprim (20.8%). For pyelonephritis, pivmecillinam was most frequently used (43.0%), followed by ciprofloxacin (20.5%) and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (16.3%). For cystitis, the use of pivmecillinam increased the most during the study period (from 46.1 to 56.6%), and for pyelonephritis, the use of sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (from 11.4 to 25.5%) followed by ciprofloxacin (from 18.2 to 23.1%). Conclusions During the 10-year study period there was a considerable increase in the proportion of UTI consultations resulting in antibiotic treatment. Cystitis was most often treated with pivmecillinam, and this proportion increased during the study period. Treatment of pyelonephritis was characterized by more use of broader-spectrum antibiotics, use of both sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and ciprofloxacin increased during the study period. These trends, indicative of enduring changes in consultation and treatment patterns for UTIs, will have implications for future antibiotic stewardship measures and policy

Consultations and antibiotic treatment for urinary tract infections in Norwegian primary care 2006–2015, a registry-based study

Background Extensive use of antibiotics and the resulting emergence of antimicrobial resistance is a major health concern globally. In Norway, 82% of antibiotics is prescribed in primary care and one in four prescriptions are issued for the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTI). The aim of this study was to investigate time trends in antibiotic treatment following a consultation for UTI in primary care. Methods For the period 2006–2015 we linked data from the Norwegian Registry for Control and Payment of Health Reimbursements on all patient consultations for cystitis and pyelonephritis in general practice and out-of-hours (OOH) services, and data from the Norwegian Prescription Database on all dispensed prescriptions of antibiotics. Results Altogether 2,426,643 consultations by attendance for UTI took place in the study period, of these 94.5% for cystitis and 5.5% for pyelonephritis. Of all UTI consultations, 79.4% were conducted in general practice and 20.6% in OOH services. From 2006 to 2015, annual numbers of cystitis and pyelonephritis consultations increased by 33.9 and 14.0%, respectively. The proportion of UTI consultations resulting in an antibiotic prescription increased from 36.6 to 65.7% for cystitis, and from 35.3 to 50.7% for pyelonephritis. These observed changes occurred gradually over the years. Cystitis was mainly treated with pivmecillinam (53.9%), followed by trimethoprim (20.8%). For pyelonephritis, pivmecillinam was most frequently used (43.0%), followed by ciprofloxacin (20.5%) and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (16.3%). For cystitis, the use of pivmecillinam increased the most during the study period (from 46.1 to 56.6%), and for pyelonephritis, the use of sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (from 11.4 to 25.5%) followed by ciprofloxacin (from 18.2 to 23.1%). Conclusions During the 10-year study period there was a considerable increase in the proportion of UTI consultations resulting in antibiotic treatment. Cystitis was most often treated with pivmecillinam, and this proportion increased during the study period. Treatment of pyelonephritis was characterized by more use of broader-spectrum antibiotics, use of both sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and ciprofloxacin increased during the study period. These trends, indicative of enduring changes in consultation and treatment patterns for UTIs, will have implications for future antibiotic stewardship measures and policy