Democracy, Conflict Resolution, Foreign Policy
IPC takes a broad approach to democracy studies, covering party politics, electoral processes, institutional resilience, democratic innovation, and inclusive governance. IPC’s work in the field of conflict resolution concentrates on peacebuilding, mediation, reconciliation, migration, and social cohesion, building on IPC’s extensive experience with the political and social aspects of conflict. The foreign policy component of this cluster includes Turkey’s international stance, regional security issues, and the effects of global geopolitical changes on both domestic and international governance. Through research, public events, and strategic partnerships with academics, policymakers, civil society, and international organizations, IPC’s work in this area aims to enhance democratic governance, support peaceful conflict resolution, and promote informed and principled foreign policy decision-making.
#Democracy | #ConflictResolution | #GlobalPolitics | #GlobalEconomy | #Democratization | #Geoeconomics
IPC-Sabancı University Conflict Resolution Simulation
Istanbul Policy Center (IPC), in conjunction with Sabancı University, organized a simulation of the Cyprus negotiations by Sabancı University students on February 25, 2012 at the Marmara Hotel in Taksim. The simulation was the last session of the Istanbul Conference on Mediation entitled “Enhancing Peace through Mediation New Actors, Fresh Approaches, Bold Initiatives,” a two-day conference hosted by the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The summit began on the previous day and was attended by approximately 250 foreign ministers, local and foreign experts, academics, civil society representatives, and UN officials. During the conference, a wide range of issues on different aspects of mediation were discussed in a broad framework, including the future of Istanbul as an international mediation hub. The simulation, prepared by Sabancı University Professor and IPC Senior Scholar Meltem Müftüler-Baç and Sabancı University Professors Teri Murphy and Emre Hatipoğlu, was carried out by 34 students from Sabancı University’s European Studies (MA), Social and Political Sciences (BA), Political Science (MA, PhD) and Conflict Analysis and Resolution(MA) programs. The purpose of the simulation was to have the students develop a deeper understanding of confidence building measures and the interworking of the mediation process as a whole. To accomplish this, traditional top-down approaches to mediation were supplanted with cross-stitching, a mediation tool designed for confidence building between parties by encouraging representatives from different segments of society to share their perspectives and their view of human security and needs with various segments from all parties. The students were divided into three teams representing the international community, Turkish Cypriots, and Greek Cypriots, with each team having two facilitators. After days of preparation, it was conducted in two separate phases: the first, a five hour session was held at the IPC headquarters in Karaköy; and the second, a one hour session took place at the Marmara Hotel.
International Cooperation in Times of Global Crises
The conference titled "International Cooperation in Times of Global Crises " was held on January 18, 2012 at Moskow.
Samim Akgönül: Minority: Cross-Perspectives on the Concept of Minority in the Turkish Context
IPC hosted a book launch on January 9, 2012 at its Karaköy headquarters for Azınlık: Türk Bağlamında Azınlık Kavramına Çapraz Bakışlar, written by Samim Akgönül of History and Political Science at Strasbourg University. Senior Scholar Ayşe Kadıoğlu moderated the roundtable while Cengiz Aktar from Bahçeşehir University and İlay Örs from Bilgi University commented on Akgönül’s latest work on minorities in the French, Greek and Turkish contexts. In his book, Akgönül penetrates deep into the conceptual meaning of minority and offers a fresh perspective on its perception in Turkey. Azınlık is a successful comparative analysis, studying non-Muslims in Turkey, as well as Muslim Turks in Greece and France, through the lens of religion.
Role Models and Guides: Sweden, Turkey, and the Middle East
The Istanbul Policy Center and the Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES) at Lund University organized a two-day roundtable meeting in November 2011 to discuss the feasibility of a joint project on awakening and democratization in Arab countries. The discussion focused on the possibility of disseminating Turkish and Swedish experiences in good governance, sustainable development policies, and human and resource development in the Middle East and North Africa.
Turkey- Africa Seminar
On April 14, 2011, IPM organized the "Turkey-Africa Seminar" in Istanbul in cooperation with Chatham House and the Confederation of Turkish Businessmen and Industrialists (TÜSON). The conference, which featured opening remarks by IPM Senior Advisor Joost Lagendijk and TÜSON Secretary General Mustafa Günay, addressed Turkey's foreign policy toward Africa, its role in balancing Turkey's growing competitive economic and political interests in Africa, long-term policy plans, and interaction with local organizations in Africa.
Iran's Nuclear Program: American, European and Turkish Responses
IPC, in coordination with the German Marshall Fund of the U.S., hosted a roundtable discussion entitled “Iran’s Nuclear Program: American, European and Turkish Responses,” at the Ritz-Carlton Istanbul on December 18, 2009. In his opening remarks explaining the motivation behind the event, the Founding Director of the Istanbul Policy Center Ustun Erguder cited the importance of the Iran nuclear issue to Turkey given its proximity to Iran, as well as Turkey’s recent attempts to play a mediating role in the standoff. In addition to a diverse group of participants from Turkey’s media, foreign policy, business and civil society sectors, the roundtable’s distinguished European, American and Turkish speakers were: Maurizio Martellini, Secretary General of the Landau Network – Centro Volta; Andrea Hall, U.S. State Department; Michael Thumann, Die Zeit; Mustafa Kibaroglu, Bilkent University; Gulden Ayman, Marmara University; and Ambassador Murat Bilhan (Ret.), Istanbul Kultur University.