“Tom Barrack’s statements carry the traces of an old mindset that sees the peoples of the Middle East not as the subjects of democratic republics, but as communities that must be kept under strong central authorities. Yet the last century of the region has shown that one-man regimes have brought neither peace, nor prosperity, nor stability. What this geography needs is not the worn-out authoritarian molds of the past, but a new vision of the future based on popular sovereignt

Ayhan Kızıltan, ben@ayhankiziltan.com , Mersin, Türkiye 19.10.2025 " Within the framework of the series PROJECTS FROM MERSIN TO TÜRKİYE , I have authored this article to underscore Mersin’s pivotal role and influence on regional economic growth. " The most accurate way to understand a city is not merely to look within its administrative borders, but to perceive its influence extending far beyond them. Mersin is exactly such a city. This is because Mersin gains its true signif