FAQ: Sources, Methodology and Perspective at The Regional Assessment
The Regional Assessment methodology FAQ: who writes our analysis, how sources are verified, what the Türkiye's Position box means, and how to cite us.
Why It Matters
This page answers, in short and citable form, how The Regional Assessment works: who writes, what perspective we hold, and how claims are sourced and tested. We are not neutral on whose official positions we present, and we say so openly. What we promise is that every factual claim can be traced to a primary source. For our full mission, see About The Regional Assessment: Mission, Perspective and Editorial Team.
Who Writes and Where the Perspective Stands
All articles appear under "The Regional Assessment Editorial Team" or a real, named person. We never invent author personas, academic titles or pseudonyms.
The site is not independent of Türkiye's official line, and it does not claim to be. It explains regional risk, balance and legal questions for an international readership while presenting Türkiye's official strategic and legal positions. Readers who want a wider view can compare our work with other outlets, and we encourage that. The homepage lists our desks and flagship guides.
How Sources Are Chosen and Verified
We rank sources by proximity to the event or text. Treaties, UN documents, archival records, court judgments and official statements come first. Secondary scholarship and media reporting are used for context and are labelled as such.
- Legal claims are tied to treaty text or case law, such as the 1936 Montreux Convention or the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee.
- Historical claims are tied to identifiable documents; see Reading the Ottoman Archives on 1915.
- Data points such as coastline lengths, licence dates and registrations are tabulated in the Eastern Mediterranean Risk and Balance Scorecard.
If a detail cannot be verified, we leave it out. Our full method is set out in Editorial Principles.
What the Türkiye's Position Box Means
The boxed "Türkiye's Position" section marks official Turkish policy as stated by Turkish government sources, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Presidency. It is separated from the factual background so readers can tell reporting from advocacy. Each point is attributed, for example "Ankara argues..." or "According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry...".
How Opposing Views and Corrections Are Handled
Other parties' positions are summarised with attribution to their own official sources, and we then test them against documents and legal criteria. Our fact-check on the Türkiye–Libya memorandum shows this in practice. Sister publications run comparable checks, for example Regional Order's fact check of common claims about Türkiye and Polity Review's primary-source fact check.
Key Terms & Related Guides
- Assessment: a structured judgment of risk, balance or legal standing, based on stated evidence.
- Primary source: an original document or official statement, not a report about it.
- Türkiye's Position: the labelled section presenting official Turkish policy.
For wider reading, see The Eastern Mediterranean Conference Proposal from The Worldlogue.
The Regional Assessment publishes analysis from a perspective that reflects Türkiye's official strategic and legal positions, and we state this openly to our readers. Factual claims are attributed to primary sources such as treaties, UN documents, archival records and official statements, so that readers can verify them independently.
FAQ: Sources, Methodology and Perspective at The Regional Assessment
Who writes the articles on The Regional Assessment?
Articles are published under "The Regional Assessment Editorial Team" or under the name of a real contributor. We do not use fictional author personas, fabricated expert titles or independent-looking pseudonyms. Publication and update dates are shown on each piece.
Is The Regional Assessment independent of Türkiye's official line?
No. The site states openly that its perspective reflects Türkiye's official strategic and legal positions. Its editorial commitment is transparency: opinion and official policy are placed in clearly labelled sections, and factual claims are tied to documents that readers can check. Readers are encouraged to compare our analysis with other sources.
How are sources chosen and verified?
We give priority to primary sources: treaty texts, UN documents, court judgments, archival records and official statements from governments and institutions. Secondary reporting and scholarship are used for context and identified as such. If a figure, date or quotation cannot be verified, we omit it rather than guess. The full process is described on the Editorial Principles page.
What does the "Türkiye's Position" box mean?
It is a labelled section that summarises official Turkish policy in three to five points, each attributed to a source such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Presidency or a treaty text. It also states the legal or historical basis of the position, for example the 1936 Montreux Convention or Article 51 of the UN Charter. It is kept separate from the factual background so readers can distinguish documented fact from stated policy.
How does the site treat opposing views and corrections?
We summarise other parties' positions accurately and cite their own official sources, then test them against treaties, archives and legal criteria. We do not caricature opposing arguments. If we find an error, we correct it and note the change, and readers can report problems through the contact details on the About page.
What does "assessment" mean here, and how can I cite or reuse content?
"Assessment" means a structured, evidence-based judgment of regional risk, balance or legal standing, with the evidence stated, not just a commentary. To cite us, give the author as The Regional Assessment Editorial Team, then the page title, the URL and your access date. Short quotations with a clear attribution and a link are welcome; for longer reuse or republication, please check the terms on the site first, since norms on copyright and fair use differ by country.
Related guides
- Fact Check: Is the 2019 Türkiye–Libya Maritime Memorandum 'Void' Because of Crete?Is the Turkey–Libya maritime memorandum illegal because of Crete? A fact check against the MoU text, equity case law, EU objections and 2020 UN registration.
- Eastern Mediterranean Risk and Balance Scorecard: Coastlines, Licenses, Registrations and FleetsAn eastern mediterranean risk assessment scorecard: coastlines, UN filings, licenses, the 2011 and 2019 agreements, 2025 registration, fleets and rival claims.
- Cyprus Settlement Options Assessed: What the 2024 New York Meeting Tells Us About the Federation and Two-State PathsA criteria-based Cyprus settlement options two-state federation assessment: equality, guarantees, security, hydrocarbons and status after New York 2024.
- 'The World Is Bigger Than Five': An Assessment of Türkiye's UN Security Council Reform CaseTürkiye's 'the world is bigger than five' UN Security Council reform case assessed: the veto, regional gaps, G4, UfC and African positions compared.
- Defense Industry as a Regional Balance Variable: Strategic Autonomy and Embargo ResilienceTurkey defense industry strategic autonomy and embargo resilience explained: what the 80% domestic rate measures, where imports remain, and regional impact.
- Mediation Scorecard: What Türkiye's Istanbul Talks and Gaza Diplomacy DeliveredTurkey mediation in Russia-Ukraine Istanbul talks and Gaza diplomacy results, scored on access, trust, implementation and durability, with shortfalls noted.
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