Yusuf Can
Former Program Coordinator, Middle East Program
Expert Bio
Yusuf Can served as the Coordinator for the Middle East Program (MEP) at the Wilson Center. He focuses on the Middle East and North Africa and has expertise in Turkish politics, the Israel-Palestine conflict as well as tech policy. Mr. Can serves as the editor for the program’s flagship publication, MENA360°, leads the Future of EURO-MENA Project, organizes prominent MEP events and sessions, and plays a pivotal role in the creation and execution of new projects.
Can frequently contribute to media outlets such as the Guardian, BBC News, Business Insider, VOA News, El Independiente, and Expresso providing expert analysis on MENA affairs. His scholarly and journalistic works have been featured in publications, including the Wilson Center, Bulletin of the Atomic Sciences, and BirGun.
He earned an MA from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and a BA from Sacramento State University in Sacramento, California. He is originally from Istanbul, Turkey.
Insight & Analysis by Yusuf Can
- Video
 - Civil Society
 
Imamoglu’s Arrest Sparks Nationwide Unrest and Raises Fears for Turkish Democracy
  - Video
 - Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding
 
Kurdish Militant Group PKK Agrees to Disarm as Turkey Weighs Next Steps
  - Article
 
Reactions from MENA Governments on the Fall of the Assad Regime
- By
 - Bayan Kayali and
 - Yusuf Can
 
  - Past event
 - International Security
 
Syria in Transition: Challenges and Prospects
  - Article
 - International Security
 
What Syria’s Opposition Resurgence Means for Ankara
  - Video
 - International Security
 
A Conversation with Ambassador James Jeffrey on Syria’s Shifting Dynamics
  - Article
 - Elections
 
Reactions in MENA to US Presidential Elections
- By
 - Merissa Khurma,
 - Alexander Farley,
 - Faria Nasruddin,
 - and 1 more
 
  - Article
 - International Security
 
Turkey-Israel Relations After October 7: Layers of Complexity and Posturing
- By
 - Yusuf Can and
 - Seda Güneş