German External Cultural and Educational Policies in Turkey: Cooperation as Equal Partners?

Executive Summary 

This policy brief analyzes German External Cultural and Educational Policies (GECEP) in Turkey. It focuses on the successful implementation of “fair cooperation,” based on the self-proclaimed goal of reciprocal cooperation and encounters as equals rather than a hierarchical donor–recipient relationship. It is based on an analysis of the activities of the German Cultural Academy Tarabya, the German-Turkish Youthbridge, German Schools in Turkey, and the Turkish-German University (TAU). The analysis is enriched by interviews with representatives of German institutions in Turkey as well as students of the TAU. The guiding questions of this policy brief examine the long-term orientation of the activities and to what extent the parties are able to implement the goal of cooperation between equal partners. It addresses the most pressing issues of GECEP in Turkey and closes with examples of best practices and recommendations to further strengthen cooperation between Germany and Turkey in the field of culture and education. This policy brief analyzes German External Cultural and Educational Policies (GECEP) in Turkey. It focuses on the successful implementation of “fair cooperation,” based on the self-proclaimed goal of reciprocal cooperation and encounters as equals rather than a hierarchical donor–recipient relationship. It is based on an analysis of the activities of the German Cultural Academy Tarabya, the German-Turkish Youthbridge, German Schools in Turkey, and the Turkish-German University (TAU). The analysis is enriched by interviews with representatives of German institutions in Turkey as well as students of the TAU. The guiding questions of this policy brief examine the long-term orientation of the activities and to what extent the parties are able to implement the goal of cooperation between equal partners. It addresses the most pressing issues of GECEP in Turkey and closes with examples of best practices and recommendations to further strengthen cooperation between Germany and Turkey in the field of culture and education.