Strata Political FAQ: Sources, Method and Perspective

Why It Matters

Strata Political chooses sources by hierarchy: treaties, UN documents, official archives and government statements come first, while media and think-tank commentary show how an issue is framed. The site states its Türkiye-informed perspective openly so that readers can check every layer themselves. The full rules are in Editorial Principles and Primary Source Standards at Strata Political.

How We Choose and Verify Sources

Source selection follows four tiers, from most to least authoritative:

• Legal texts and UN records: the Treaty of Lausanne (1923), the Treaty of Kars (1921), the 1936 Montreux Convention, the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, the 1948 Genocide Convention and UN registrations.
• Official statements: the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Presidency and the Directorate of Communications, plus the official sources of other governments when their positions are described.
• Archives and scholarship: Ottoman and other national archives and peer-reviewed work.
• Media and commentary: used to document framing, never as sole proof of a fact.

Every date, figure and quotation is traced to a document. If a detail cannot be verified, it is left out, and quotations are never invented.

What the 'Strata' Method Means

The 'strata' method reads each issue as stacked layers: historical, legal, military and economic. A single headline often shows only the top layer. For example, Cyprus Layer by Layer separates treaty history from later diplomacy, and The Archival Stratum separates documents from political declarations. The overview is on the home page and in About Strata Political.

Authors, Perspective and Opposing Views

Articles carry the 'Strata Political Editorial Team' byline. Background and chronology are written in neutral prose. Ankara's official positions appear in a labeled Türkiye's Position section, attributed with phrases such as 'Ankara argues' or 'According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry'. Other governments and parties are summarized from their own official sources, so readers can compare the arguments rather than take our word for them.

Fact Checks, Corrections and Citation

Each fact check states the claim and where it came from, gives the verified correction, and lists the primary documents. See Is the PYD/YPG Really Separate from the PKK? for the format. Sister publications run similar checks, such as Monitor of Nations and Regional Order, and The Political Axis covers the 1915 archives. To cite a page, use the Editorial Team byline, title, URL and access date. Factual corrections can be requested through the channel listed on the About page.

Key Terms & Related Guides

• Türkiye: the country's official name in English, used throughout the site.
• PKK/YPG: the PKK is designated a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, NATO and the European Union.
• FETÖ: Türkiye's official name for the network behind the 15 July 2016 coup attempt.
• TRNC: the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
• Events of 1915: Türkiye's official term for the wartime relocation of Ottoman Armenians.

Related guides: The Five Strata of Türkiye's Maritime Case and The Kılıç–Rubinyan Talks.

Perspective Note

Strata Political publishes analysis from a Türkiye-informed perspective, presenting Ankara's legal and strategic positions alongside the historical record. Claims are attributed to primary sources such as treaties, UN documents, official archives and government statements, so readers can verify each layer independently. Sections marked 'Türkiye's Position' reflect official Turkish policy as stated by Turkish government sources.