The publication of the 2026 non-fiction work Nation of Strangers marks another progression in the career of Ece Temelkuran, a Turkish author and jurist born in İzmir in 1973. Her output, which spans poetry, political journalism, and novels, addresses the evolution of modern democracy and the global emergence of right-wing populism across international borders.
Legal Background and Journalism
Temelkuran graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Law and maintains membership in the Istanbul Bar Association. She transitioned into media, serving as a columnist for Milliyet between 2000 and 2009. From 2009 until January 2012, she wrote for Habertürk and presented on Habertürk TV. Her employment ended following her coverage of the December 2011 Uludere massacre, where her critical perspective on government actions led to her departure. During this period, she earned recognition as one of Turkey's most widely read political columnists.
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Her literary reach extends beyond Turkish borders, with articles featured in publications including The Guardian, The New York Times, La Stampa, Der Spiegel, Internazionale, and Le Monde Diplomatique. To complete her novels, she lived in Paris, Tunis, and Beirut. In 2008, she served as a visiting fellow at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, where she produced Deep Mountain, Across the Turkish-Armenian Divide. Her novel Women Who Blow on Knots received the Edinburgh International Book Festival First Book Award.
Political Analysis and Advocacy
Her analysis of authoritarianism, How to Lose a Country: The 7 Steps from Democracy to Dictatorship, gained international circulation in 2019. This was followed by the 2021 release of Together: 10 Choices for a Better Now. Between March 2021 and September 2023, she participated as a fellow at The New Institute in Hamburg, focusing on a new vocabulary for 21st-century progressives. She currently serves on the advisory boards of Progressive International and Democracy Next.
Awards and Recognition
Throughout her career, she has received various honors for her journalistic and humanitarian work. In 2008, she was granted the Ayşe Zarakolu Freedom of Thought Award by the Human Rights Association of Turkey. Her later recognition includes the Ambassador Of New Europe Award and the 2023 El Mundo International Journalism Award in the Freedom of the Press category. Most recently, Nation of Strangers earned a longlisting for the 2026 Women's Prize for Non-Fiction.
Fast facts
- Born: 22 July 1973, İzmir, Turkey
- Education: Ankara University Faculty of Law
- Notable Book: Women Who Blow on Knots
- Professional Membership: Istanbul Bar Association
- Fellowship: The New Institute, Hamburg (2021–2023)
- Award: El Mundo International Journalism Award, 2023
- Notable Non-Fiction: How to Lose a Country
- Current Roles: Advisory board member, Progressive International
Questions readers ask
What is the primary focus of Ece Temelkuran's political writing?
Her work focuses on the rise of right-wing populism, the transition from democracy to dictatorship, and the necessity of progressive, collective action in the 21st century.
Is Ece Temelkuran a practicing lawyer?
While she is a graduate of Ankara University's Faculty of Law and a member of the Istanbul Bar Association, she is primarily active as an author, journalist, and activist.
Achievements
- Notable work: Women Who Blow on Knots
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