"Turkey: East or West?" Lecture Series

The Transatlantic & Caucasus Studies Institute is co-sponsoring the Forum for European Philosophy's Annual Lecture Series 2009. Entitled "Turkey: East or West", the series of four lectures will take place at the London School of Economics each Tuesday evening from 26 May to 16 June 2009. These lectures are open to the public and admission is free. Photographs and audio of lectures that have taken place are linked below.

Turkey: East or West?

The Republic of Turkey, as a secular nation state, was created out of the ashes of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I. Since then Turkey has moved steadily westward, being hailed as a model for the Islamic world. Turkey is now an established member of NATO, the Council of Europe, and the OSCE, though membership of the European Union has proved elusive. But as a nation that straddles two continents (Asia and Europe) it has always had a complex identity. This lecture series will look at the forces that are shaping Turkey from within and the impact and influence Turkey is projecting in the region and beyond; ultimately asking the question: where next for Turkey?

Tuesday 26 May, 6.30 - 8 pm

The Creation of the Secular State of Turkey
Andrew Mango, author and biographer of Mustapha Kemal Ataturk
Venue: Alumni Theatre, New Academic Building, Lincoln's Inn Fields, LSE

Tuesday 2 June, 6.30 - 8 pm

Turkey Looking West: Culture, Identity and European Integration
Hakan Yilmaz, Professor in the Department of Political Science & International Relations, Bogazici University, Istanbul
Venue: Alumni Theatre, New Academic Building, Lincoln's Inn Fields, LSE

Tuesday 9 June, 6.30 - 8 pm

The Rise of Religion in the Public Sphere
Ilhan Uzgel, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Political Science, Ankara University
Venue: Alumni Theatre, New Academic Building, Lincoln's Inn Fields, LSE

Tuesday 16 June, 6.30 - 8 pm

Turkey's Changing Role in Geopolitics
Ziba Norman, Director, The Transatlantic & Caucasus Studies Institute, London
Venue: Room G108, 20 Kingsway, LSE

How to get there

The LSE's "Travelling to the LSE" page gives information about public transport (underground, rail, buses) and nearby parking.

The lecture venues are indicated on the map to the right (not to scale). (Map download [A4-size PDF])

Transatlantic & Caucasus Studies Institute is a working name of The Transatlantic Institute.