School of Politics

This book is proof of a very important educational reform in Türkiye.

 

In 2004, during a conversation in the office of the President of Bahçeşehir University, we exchanged views on two different topics. The first, as Mr. Batum has stated many times, is the fact that a university should not be an institution attended only by our valued students who pass the ÖSS and that only provides academic education to its enrolled students and graduates them; it should be an institution open to people from all walks of life who are eager to learn and wish to develop themselves in various fields, regardless of their economic situation, level of education or field of specialization. In other words, a University is not the property of a particular community or group, but an institution responsible for educating society as a whole.

 

The other topic of our conversation was how well equipped the hidden heroes of Turkish politics, in other words the highly valuable politicians and prospective politicians in the provincial, district and town organizations of the parties, are to make use of the opportunities that come their way regarding the governance and future of their country.

 

Based on these two important questions and views, the School of Politics, established within the Bahçeşehir University School of Government and Leadership, was launched to offer a great service to Turkish society and its politicians.

 

The School of Politics has given its students, who enroll from every profession, every political party and different viewpoints without distinction, the opportunity to be taught by representatives of many political parties and different viewpoints. It has sought to prove that the truth can always look different from different perspectives, that circumstances can change every condition, and that in politics, which people practice in order to reach consensus, to serve and to meet the needs of society, the most important requirement is analytical thinking and an unprejudiced mind.

 

The book you are about to read has been selected and compiled from the speeches given by our valued speakers, in other words our dear instructors, who took part in School of Politics 1.

 

On behalf of all School of Politics students, I would like to express my affection and gratitude to Mr. Enver Yücel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Bahçeşehir University, who made a very serious contribution to such an important educational reform and who has clearly demonstrated the academic independence and impartiality of the university, and to Prof. Dr. Süheyl Batum, President of Bahçeşehir University.

 

Burak KÜNTAY

Chair

School of Government and Leadership