Turkey is often viewed as a regional centre of economic and political stability. It is, however, currently faced with a number of major issues. The Turkey Programme seeks to develop understanding and offer perspectives into the country’s shifting realities. The aim is to inform analysis and decision-making by people working with, or in, Turkey.
Turkey is often viewed as a regional centre of economic and political stability. It is, however, currently faced with a number of major issues. The Turkey Programme seeks to develop understanding and offer perspectives into the country’s shifting realities. The aim is to inform analysis and decision-making by people working with, or in, Turkey.
Internationally renowned expertise
The Turkey Programme is recognised for its work on the country and its geopolitical environment. It has been commissioned to prepare consultancy reports, research and studies on the region’s strategic issues for both public- and private-sector clients.
IRIS’ Turkey Programme offers a range of services and expertise that are suited to short-, medium- and long-term needs and strategies to help companies navigate and develop assessment methodologies to move forward in a complex environment and grow their business or investments in Turkey and its geopolitical environment.
Topics addressed by IRIS in recent years include:
Turkey in the light of current challenges; Turkish foreign policy outlook in view of its internal political situation; accession of Cyprus to the European Union; Turkish foreign policy and regional stability; American, British and Russian strategic ambitions in the Mediterranean; Kurdish questions — The improbable, unified Kurdish state; Russo-Turkish relations: Between posturing and strategic disputes; Political sociology in Turkey: Structural authoritarianism; Turkish DTIB and arms export policies.
The Observatory on Turkey and its Geopolitical Environment
The Turkey Programme’s work focuses particularly on the Observatory on Turkey and its Geopolitical Environment. Established in 2010, the Observatory’s mission is to analyse developments in Turkey both domestically (social and political life, centres of power and their focuses) and externally (relationships with neighbours and world powers, role in multilateral institutions). Since its foundations, more than a dozen studies have been prepared. In the interest of creating synergy, the Turkey Programme has also established partnerships to organise high-level seminars with the Centre for Economic and Social Research (BETAM) at Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul and the Centre for Economic and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM) at Galatasaray University.
More about the Observatory on Turkey and its Geopolitical Environment
Some of the initiatives in these programmes are supported by the French Ministry of Defence’s Directorate General for International Relations and Strategy (DGRIS) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development’s Centre for Analysis, Planning and Strategy.
Expertise, network
The Turkey Programme makes its knowledge, expertise and research network available through a wide range of events organised for public and private clients.
Through its Observatory on Turkey and its Geopolitical Environment, IRIS’ Turkey Programme has organised a number of symposia each year for the French Ministry of Defence’s Directorate General for International Relations and Strategy (DGRIS). Well-known experts introduce the symposia and its theme. A summary is prepared following each symposium and is available to download from the DGRIS and IRIS websites.
Drawing on a strong network of Turkish partners, IRIS’ Turkey Programme has, for a number of years, jointly organised a Franco‑Turkish seminar in Istanbul with Galatasaray University and the support of the Centre for Analysis, Planning and Strategy in the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development. The seminars aim to bring together politicians, senior civil servants, businesspeople, journalists, experts and academics, and are an opportunity to explore French and Turkish perspectives.
Private events are designed to foster the exchange of views and facilitate discussion among high‑level decision-makers in an intimate and informal setting. A recent example was the seminar held in June 2016 entitled “Turkey 2023: A long-term vision for inclusive growth”, organised in partnership with the Center for American Progress and the Institut du Bosphore.
Public events are an opportunity to promote and discuss strategic research focuses for clients. A recent example was the conference organised at the French National Assembly in January 2015 entitled “Turkey’s geostrategic role: A proven power”, organised with the support of nine major French businesses.
Knowledge
IRIS’ research and training teams are involved in developing these events. With more than 50 events organised each year, the Institute also has a dedicated event management team to deal with logistics and practical matters. Recognition of IRIS and the strength of its network are testaments to the success of IRIS events in this field.
The Institute’s conference centre, located in the heart of Paris, is bookable for such events. The centre has a fully equipped auditorium as well as an adjacent room that is ideal for smaller gatherings.
Custom-designed training
The Turkey Programme offers custom-designed training courses for clients that can be held on-site or in IRIS facilities.
Courses are developed in collaboration with a company’s human resources and strategic planning departments and its international divisions. The courses are designed to meet specific client needs.
The Ministry for Labour, Employment, Vocational Training and Industrial Relations recognises IRIS courses as certified professional developed courses.
IRIS, a training expert
IRIS has offered thematic and specialised professional development courses in its premises for over 15 years. Courses are designed for students to acquire new skills and to instruct the business community and government officials on major international issues facing Turkey and its geopolitical environment.
More about professional training programmes
The IRIS Sup’ school also offers degree programmes for professionals. There are five courses in a year over the course of eight months. With working professionals in mind, courses are organised two days a week. There are also two distance education courses for students to work at their own pace in a structured learning environment.
IRIS offers a number of short-term, skills-development programmes as well.
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