Discussion Platforms

  2. Discussion Platforms

In addition to demanding coursework and cutting-edge research, Kadir Has University's academic environment is characterized by a lively atmosphere of intellectual inquiry and candid discussion. An example of this dynamic environment is the abundance of debate forums that have been carefully selected by the university's departments, research centers, and faculties. These discussion forums offer a neutral space for different schools of thought to come together, encouraging the sharing of concepts, revelations, and viewpoints in a wide range of subjects. Amidst this diverse array of scholarly interactions, certain outstanding examples of these discussion boards stand out as hubs for critical thinking and information sharing. We shall examine a few of these exceptional cases in the sections that follow, highlighting their distinctive contributions to the scholarly fabric of our University.

The Center of Energy and Sustainable Development (CESD) hosts:

The Center for Energy and Sustainable Development (CESD) at Kadir Has University actively engages in a variety of events aimed at fostering dialogue and research in the fields of energy and sustainability. These initiatives include:
 
Energy Talks and Online Energy Talks: CESD organizes a series of discussions featuring experts from academia, industry, and policy-making to explore current trends and challenges in the energy sector. These sessions are conducted both in-person and online, ensuring accessibility to a broad audience.
 
Green New Deal and Turkey: This event focuses on the implications of the Green New Deal for Turkey, examining strategies for sustainable development and the transition to a low-carbon economy. It brings together stakeholders to discuss policy frameworks, economic opportunities, and environmental considerations pertinent to Turkey's energy future.
 
Energy and Climate Conversations: A platform for in-depth discussions on the intersection of energy policies and climate change, these conversations aim to address the pressing issues of environmental sustainability, renewable energy adoption, and climate resilience.
 
Graduate Student Conference on Energy and Sustainable Development: CESD provides a forum for graduate students to present their research on energy and sustainability topics. This conference encourages the exchange of ideas among emerging scholars and contributes to the advancement of knowledge in the field.
 
Through these events, CESD demonstrates its commitment to advancing research, education, and policy discussions in energy and sustainable development, aligning with its mission to address global energy challenges.
 

Center for International and European Studies (CIES) hosts:

In order to empower young leaders for regional cooperation, the CIES has organized the annual “International Neighborhood Symposium” (INS), gathering key stakeholders and young professionals from Europe’s Neighborhoods since 2011. The CIES has reached 270 young leaders via the INS who are actively engaged in promoting regional cooperation.
 
Another annual project of the CIES on youth leadership and security is the “Greek-Turkish Young Leaders Symposium on Security” (GTYLS), which brings together 2015 young Greeks and Turks to enhance cooperation and dialogue.
 
In terms of good governance, the CIES has launched a new project titled “Striving for Good Governance: Civil Society Strengthening and Youth Empowerment” with the support of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands under the Matra Program.
 
The CIES implemented a project titled “CSO Cooperation across Borders” to support the triangular relationship between Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus (both communities) with the involvement of civil society experts.
 
Additionally, the CIES realized the project titled “Promoting Dialogue between Iran and Turkey through Good Governance and Civic Engagement” to strengthen the capability of youth and women with regard to civic engagement and good governance in Iran and Turkey.
 
Sustainable development is becoming a significant area of research and study for the CIES. It recently launched a new initiative titled “Talking Development: The Glocal Approach, Global Goals & Local Solutions”. It comprises a series of periodic debates on each one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, while it also includes the launching of an SDG Multi-Stakeholder Platform in partnership with business and Civil Society Organizations. Its most recent research projects entitled “How Turkish Elites View Turkish Foreign Policy and Greek Turkish Relations”, “Quo Vadis the Eastern Mediterranean? Recommendations from Regional Security Experts”, and “The Atlantic Alliance and Turkey: Prospects for the Future” all have a foreign policy and security focus. All aforementioned projects have been held in cooperation with a number of international and national institutional partners and co-sponsors.

 

You can access one of the CESD's Online Energy Talks through the following link:

Foreign Policy Talks: Turkey as a Partner and a Challenge for European Security

The first webinar of the Foreign Policy Talks series on “Turkey as a partner and a challenge for European Security” will focus on “EU-Turkey Relations in the Aftermath of the 25 March European Council” where experts will provide an initial assessment of the state of relations between the European Union and Turkey following the crucial European Council meeting of 25 March.  The Webinar is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, 31 March at 18:00 (GMT+2) on Zoom and the CIES Facebook Page.

Speakers

– Çiğdem Nas, Secretary General, Economic Development Foundation (IKV), Istanbul
– Kostas Ifantis, Professor of International Relations, Panteion University of Athens
– Günter Seufert, Head, Center for Applied Turkey Studies (CATS) at Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), Berlin
– Dorothée Schmid, Head, Turkey and Middle East Program, French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), Paris
– Dimitrios Triantaphyllou, Center for International and European Studies (CIES), Kadir Has University, Istanbul (Moderator)

The Turkey as a Partner and a Challenge for European Security project is a joint initiative by the Center for International and European Studies at Kadir Has University, the International Relations Council of Turkey (IRCT), the Institute of International Relations at Panteion University of Athens funded by the Centre for Applied Turkey Studies (CATS) at Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) in Berlin. It seeks to explore the state of relations between the EU and Turkey by focusing on a number of thematic security-related areas of mutual interest through the publication of a number of joint research papers as well as the production of a policy report. The novelty of the project is that it is exclusively composed of Turkish and Greek academics and analysts that are working together provide a fresh perspective on the EU-Turkey relationship.

The Centre for Applied Turkey Studies (CATS) at Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) in Berlin is funded by Stiftung Mercator and the Federal Foreign Office. CATS is the curator of CATS Network, an international network of think tanks and research institutions working on Turkey. “Turkey as a partner and challenge for European Security” is a project of CATS Network.

The Center for International and European Studies (CIES) at Kadir Has University is research center whose mission is to pursue applied, policy-oriented research and promote debate on the most pressing global issues. Its objectives are to increase understanding, raise awareness, promote debate, and enhance cooperation in several focus areas including foreign policy, security, regional cooperation, governance, youth leadership, and sustainable development, inter alia, with a geographic focus on the European Union, its eastern and southern neighborhoods, Turkey, Southeastern Europe, and the wider Middle East.

The International Relations Council of Turkey (IRCT) is a non-profit association of IR scholars, diplomats, and practitioners, established in 2004, to conduct projects, conferences, and educational programs. Major activities of IRCT are a biannual Convention since 2005, quarterly journal Uluslararası İlişkiler, indexed by SSCI, the Security Academy since 2008, the Foreign Policy Academy since 2015, Security Portal since 2019, and regular seminars, conferences, brainstorming events.

The Institute of International Relations (IIR) at Panteion University of Athens was established in 1989. Its goal is the promotion of research and activity in the field of International Relations, Politics, Security and Defense, Democratization and Human Rights, as well as Economics with a special focus on the European Union, Southeastern Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East region. Furthermore, I.I.R. is fostering the development of networks among academics, diplomats, policymakers and students.