School of Government and Leadership Think Tank

The Political School program has made a great contribution to learning about Türkiye's political structure and functioning from experts on the subject. In the program, where lectures were given by instructors from all political parties and views, classes were conducted in an objective and academic environment. As a consequence of the necessity of democracy and participation, the courses within the program were conducted interactively. Throughout our Political School programs, we noticed that our students wanted not only to ask questions but also to express their own views on Türkiye's chronic and current problems and to share their observations and proposed solutions.

 

As a result of these observations, we deemed it appropriate to establish a think tank as part of the Political School. In these meetings, Political School students shared their views on various political topics, discussed proposed solutions and voiced their observations. Very important issues were raised and discussed in these meetings, attended by students from many different viewpoints.

 

During this process, our participants both increased their level of knowledge and improved their ability to express themselves. As with the two previously published books, this accumulated knowledge has been gathered in this book through articles written by our participants.

 

Specifically regarding Türkiye, the book addresses the topics of Energy and EU Energy Policy, the Middle East and the Greater Middle East Project, Black Sea Security, the Karabakh Issue, the Rise of China and Its Relations with Our Country, Diasporas in Foreign Policy, the Transition to the Information Society, Relations with Russia, and Wars of Interest. Our students addressed the different problems Türkiye faces in these areas and offered proposed solutions. I express my gratitude to our students, who are sensitive to our country's problems, who are not content with merely voicing them but seek solutions, and whose views we have been able to compile in this book through their articles, for their efforts.

 

I also extend my respect, affection and gratitude to Mr. Enver Yücel, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Bahçeşehir University, who made the formation of this think tank possible and has always supported our work; Prof. Dr. Deniz Ülke Arıboğan, President of Bahçeşehir University; Prof. Dr. Süheyl Batum, founding president of the Political School; the valued staff and interns of the School of Government and Leadership, who devoted great effort to both the Political School and the think tank meetings; and the esteemed Bahçeşehir University community.