We are pleased to announce Centre for Policy and Research on Turkey (Research Turkey)’s public conference entitled “Turkey’s New Foreign Policy Elite:  Neoliberalism and Business Associations under the AKP” in which Harriet Fildes of University of Edinburgh will give a talk. This event will take place on Wednesday, 17 December 2014 between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at Main College Buildings, Room G3, SOAS, University of London, WC1H 0XG. Dr. Thomas Marois, Senior Lecturer at SOAS will chair the event. The event is Co-sponsored by SOAS Development Studies, Neoliberalism, Globalisation and States Research Cluster.

You may find the synopsis of the talk and a short biography of Harriet Fildes below.

This event is free and open to public but it is a ticketed event that requires pre-registration. A ticket does not guarantee a seat. Please register via the link below:

rt-harriet-fildes-soas-dec14.eventbrite.co.uk 

Synopsis of the Talk

Since the accession of the Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi) (AKP) in 2002, Turkish political culture has undergone rapid and widespread transformations, which is particularly clear in the direction and implementation of foreign-policy. There is a broad consensus amongst scholars of Turkish foreign-policy that a new era has arisen under the AKPs jurisdiction, an energetic era of eastern-orientated foreign-policy activism and there is a growing interest in understanding and explaining Turkey’s “new” proactive foreign-policy. Harriet will address one of the under-examined facets of this change; the role of economic civil society actors, exploring, if, how and in what context they are operating as driving force behind Turkey’s increased activities and rapprochement with the Middle East. The emergence of Turkey’s “civil-economic” power paradigm and subsequent expansion of cultural, economic and humanitarian ties with the Middle East has altered not only state-society relations domestically, but has had an enduring and un-explored impact on Turkey’s regional neighbourhood and international politics more broadly. With recent questioning of Turkey’s active role in the region due to widespread and de-stabilizing socio-political transformations since the Arab Spring, Harriet’s research can provide a timely and retrospective analysis of how this activism occurred to begin with and the implications of Turkey’s new role in the Middle East.

Short Biography of Harriet Fildes

Harriet Fildes is a social-scientist from the University of Edinburgh, having studied International Relations for her advanced degree at SOAS. She has worked as a research assistant at Bilkent University in Turkey and for various NGOs in the UK, Turkey and India. She is currently doing her PhD in Islamic and Middle Eastern studies, researching the relationship between civil-society and foreign policy formation under the AKP. Her main research areas are foreign-policy in the Middle East, the politics of collective action and the socio-political impact of local and global civil-society organisations.

Research Turkey Public Conference with Melda Ekmen:
“British vs Turkish Culture: How to Navigate Around Differences”
9 December 2014, King’s College London

We are pleased to announce Centre for Policy and Research on Turkey (Research Turkey)’s public conference entitled “British vs Turkish Culture: How to Navigate Around Differences” in which Melda Ekmen of Mira Consulting Ltd. will give a talk. This event will take place on Tuesday, 9 December 2014 between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at S-1.06, Lecture Theatre, Strand Campus, King’s College London, WC2R 2LS. 

You may find a short biography of Melda Ekmen and the synopsis of the talk below.

This event is free and open to public but it is a ticketed event that requires pre-registration. A ticket does not guarantee a seat. Please register via Event Brite link below:

http://rt-conference-melda-ekmen-kingscollege-december.eventbrite.co.uk

Synopsis of the Talk

When a person chooses to live in a different country it becomes crucial to understand its culture at a deep level for successful integration and progression in any area of life. In this presentation Melda Ekmen will be talking about the core values of both Turkish and British cultures in social and business contexts, the similarities and main differences between these two cultures and what sort of a mind-set one can adopt in order to avoid potential day to day challenges. She will also share do’s and don’ts to build positive relationships in different contexts. The talk will be followed by a Q&A session.

Short Biography of Melda Ekmen

Melda Ekmen has extensive experience in human resources area with L’Oreal Group where she worked effectively across different cultures including the UK, France and Turkey. During her corporate experience she mainly focused on areas like leadership development, performance management and employee engagement. Following a first degree in Psychology, Ms. Ekmen earned a Master’s degree in Organisation Studies from Warwick Business School with a focus on organisational psychology and change. Ms. Ekmen is a Master Practitioner in Neurolinguistic Programming and has trained in Co-Active Coaching. Ms. Ekmen trained for companies such as HSBC, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Microsoft, Tesco, Selex Galileo and Regus amongst others. Ms. Ekmen is the founder and current director of Mira Consulting Ltd..

Research Turkey Public Conference with Professor Gülçin Özkan:
“Turkey’s New Economic Program: Towards Progress or Stagnation?”,
8 December 2014, LSE

We are pleased to announce Centre for Policy and Research on Turkey (Research Turkey)’s public conference entitled “Turkey’s New Economic Program: Towards Progress or Stagnation?” in which Professor Gülçin Özkan of University of York will give a talk. This event will take place on Monday, 8 December 2014 between 6:30p.m. and 8:00p.m. at London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) New Academic Building, NAB 2.06, 54 Lincolns Inn Fields, WC2A 3LJ. 

You may find a short biography of Professor Gülçin Özkan below.

This event is free and open to public but it is a ticketed event that requires pre-registration. A ticket does not guarantee a seat. Please register via the Event Brite link below:

rt-turkeys-econ-programme-lse.eventbrite.co.uk

Short Biography of Professor Gülçin Özkan

Professor Gulcin Ozkan is a macroeconomist with special interest in political economy, international finance, open economy macroeconomics and particularly the economics of emerging markets. She received her BSc in Economics from Middle East Technical University (METU) before completing her MSc in Economics at the University of Warwick and PhD at the University of York in 1996. She taught at METU and Durham University before arriving back in York in 2000. Her work on currency crises had been viewed as important examples of second generation currency crises models and had been widely cited. More recently, she has been working on financial crises, macroprudential policies, fiscal austerity at the zero lower bound and implications of tapering for emerging markets. Professor Ozkan is currently the managing editor of the Bulletin of Economic Research, Director of MSc Programme in Development Economics and Emerging Markets as well as the Deputy Head of the Department of Economics at York. She has also been the academic secretary to the Money, Macro Finance Research Group, the largest research forum for macroeconomists in the UK.

Research Turkey Public Conference with Dr. Latif Taş:
“New Borders in the Middle East and the Rising Power of the Stateless Kurds”,
5 December 2014, SOAS

We are pleased to announce Centre for Policy and Research on Turkey (Research Turkey)’s public conference entitled “New Borders in the Middle East and the Rising Power of the Stateless Kurds” in which Dr. Latif Taş of University of Oxford will give a talk. This event will take place on Friday, 5 December 2014 between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at Main College Buildings, Room G3, SOAS, University of London, WC1H 0XG. Dr. Bahar Başer, Research Fellow at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations at Coventry University will chair the event. The event is Co-sponsored by SOAS Development Studies, Neoliberalism, Globalisation and States Research Cluster.

You may find a short biography of Dr. Latif Taş and the synopsis of the talk below.

This event is free and open to public but it is a ticketed event that requires pre-registration. A ticket does not guarantee a seat. Please register via Event Brite link below:

http://rt-conference-dr-latif-tas-soas.eventbrite.co.uk

Synopsis of the Talk

Since the birth of nation states, Kurds have not created their own state, instead living under the rule and identity of others. Many stateless Kurds blame themselves for this situation: often thinking that they are not ‘good’ enough nationalists because they have not established a state of their own. From 1513, Kurds helped Ottoman Turks to take control over large parts of the Middle East. In 1920, as new Middle East nations sprang from the remnants of the Ottoman Empire, Kurds supported the new nation of Turkey to at least maintain a foothold on the edge of the Middle East. Today, Kurds are in a position to create their own state. Since this planned Kurdish state will cut any physical connection between Turkey and the Middle East, this is the one of the main reasons for the current proxy war against Kurds by Turkey with the help of ISIS. The aim of this talk is to explore how Kurds have shifted from weak nationalism and acting as an assistant for Turkey to a stronger nationalist position, acting independently, and in their own interests. Kurds are now key players in the current re-drawing of Middle East borders.

Short Biography of Dr. Latif Taş

Dr. Latif Taş is a researcher and consultant with the Oxford Diasporas Programme, University of Oxford. He is also Editor-in-Chief of the academic journal, Review of Social Studies (RoSS). Dr. Tas’s book, Legal Pluralism in Action: Dispute Resolution and the Kurdish Peace Committee, was published by Ashgate in 2014. His research has also appeared in the Journal of Legal Pluralism and Unofficial Law, International Journal on Minority and Group Rights, and the Onati Socio-Legal Series. He is a frequent contributor to BBC World and Islam Channel discussions of Kurds, Turkey and conflict in the Middle East, and writes for the Turkish newspaper, Yurt, on similar issues. His research interests include: law, society and dispute resolution; legal anthropology; ethnic conflict management; diaspora identity and transnationalism; Kurdish, Turkish, Middle Eastern and Ottoman Studies.

Research Turkey Welcome Meeting & Dinner, 23 October 2014, LSE & Sofra Covent Garden

Centre for Policy and Research on Turkey (Research Turkey) is happy to announce its “Welcome Meeting & Dinner” that will take place on 23^rd October 2014,  Thursday at London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) New Academic Building, NAB 2.04, 54 Lincolns Inn Fields, WC2A 3LJ and Sofra Covent Garden Restaurant, 36 Tavistock St, London WC2E 7PB between 18:15 and 21:30.  The event will include a brief introduction of Research Turkey and its activities as well as Patrick Binding of Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)’s speech on life and working in London. Dr. Konstantinos Matakos of LSE will kindly chair the event.

The event aims to bring the (fresh) university students of UK (and especially London) together with Research Turkey and  a true Londoner. It will offer a fantastic opportunity to  learn all about London from educational, business and social points of view and meet peers. The conference part of the event is free and open to all but it is ticketed and requires pre-registration. A ticket does not guarantee a seat.

The participants may as well enjoy an affordable dinner and have an opportunity to get to know better the speaker Patrick Binding and Research Turkey team members at Sofra Covent Garden Restaurant, WC2E 7PB, London following the conference. The dinner will include:

– Hot Soup

– Main Course Meal (with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options)

– Mixed Mezes

– One Soft Drink

The price of a dinner ticket is £15 per attendant (£16 via Eventbrite website)

The tickets for both the conference and dinner may be reserved at the link below via Eventbrite website. You may also reserve your dinner tickets and learn more about the alternative  payment options by sending an email to [email protected] .

http://researchturkey-welcome-event-2014.eventbrite.co.uk

You may also find below the event programme# Mr. Binding”s short biography as well as the synopsis of his speech:

Event Programme

18:15-18:30  Refreshments & Networking

18:30-18:45   Welcome Speech from Research Turkey

18:45-19:30   Patrick Binding, International Affairs Manager, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) – (London’s working life, the many opportunities for personal development, engaging with local communities and the London that most people don’t see)

19:15-19:45    Q&A with Patrick Binding and Research Turkey  Team

19:45-20:00  Leave for Dinner – Short Group Walk to the Restaurant

20:00-21:30   Dinner at Sofra Restaurant, Covent Garden

Short Biography of the Speaker

Patrick Binding is an International Affairs Manager at ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) since August 2012, overseeing a worldwide volunteer member network with chapters and events across Australia, the US, South East Asia, Hong Kong and Europe. He has just completed his MSc in International Business and Development at Birkbeck University of London, with a particular focus on East Asian development cooperation with Sub-Saharan Africa. Away from work and study, Patrick enjoys volunteering with the blind, making music, competing in sports and literature.

Synopsis of the Talk

As a resident for over 10 years in the north, south, east and west of the capital, Patrick Binding has experienced much of the professional, academic, cultural and social sides of London. He has worked in the not-for-profit sector in and around the City throughout his career (vocational education, insurance, accountancy), and will be speaking about London’s working life, the many opportunities for personal development, engaging with local communities and the London that most people don’t see.