The Centre for Turkey Studies (CEFTUS) and Istanbul Policy Center of Sabanci University are pleased to invite you to a public forum titled ‘Post-Election Turkey’ on 17 November 2015 (7-9pm) with an expert panel of keynote speakers:
Prof Fuat Keyman, Director of Istanbul Policy Center and Professor of International Relations at Sabancı University
Lord Wallace of Saltaire, Liberal Democrat Peer and Former Government Whip acting as government spokesperson in the House of Lords on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education in 2010-2015 Coalition Government
Lord Owen, Independent Social Democrat, Former British Foreign Secretary (1977-1979) and former MP for 26 years from 1966-1992
Mr Peter Hain, Former Labour MP between 1991 and 2015 and former senior minister for twelve years in Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s governments
Please see speaker biographies below.
CEFTUS and IPC organise two consecutive meetings in London and in Istanbul on “Post-Election Turkey.” The meetings with expert panels will elaborate on Turkey’s domestic dynamics and foreign policy following the last two general elections.
The first leg of the forums will take place between 7pm and 9pm on 17th November 2015 in Grimmond Room of Portcullis House.
This event is kindly hosted by Catherine West MP for Hornsey and Wood Green.
Please note security checks are required to enter Portcullis House. We kindly ask you to arrive at 6.30PM to allow the event to start and end on time. Booking is required for this event to ensure adequate seating available.
Turkey held three elections over a period of two years and will hold another general election on November 1. For the first time in over a decade, the ruling party, the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), lost the majority of its parliamentary seats, and the four parties in parliament failed to form a coalition government following the June 2015 general election.
Whilst it is difficult to anticipate what lies in the future for Turkey, especially after the November 1 elections, our panellists will analyse Turkey’s political momentum by specifically looking into Turkey-EU relations and the failing Kurdish peace process and regional politics, as well as Turkey’s economic and social prospects.
We look forward to welcoming you to this event.
Speaker Biographies
Professor Fuat Keyman is Director of Istanbul Policy Center and Professor of International Relations at Sabancı University. Keyman is a leading Turkish political scientist and an expert on democratization, globalization, international relations, Turkey – EU relations, Turkish foreign policy, and civil society development.
Lord William Wallace is a Liberal Democrat Peer. He was an Emeritus Professor of International Relations, London School of Economics. He was appointed a government whip in the Lords in the coalition government which was formed after the 2010 election, with departmental responsibilities covering the FCO, the Ministry of Defence, and the Department for Education. In 2011 William moved from education to the Cabinet Office, while retaining responsibilities for FCO and Defence. In July 2012 he was appointed a member of the Civil Service Reform Board. In the 2012 reshuffle he was appointed to the Privy Council, and focused his responsibilities on the FCO (where he is the only Liberal Democrat minister) and the Cabinet Office. In 2013 he was appointed to the government’s Advisory Board for the Commemoration of World War One.
Lord David Owen is Director of the Center for International Health and Co-operation and Chairman of Europe Steel, and consultant to Epion Holdings and USM Holdings. He was a Member of Parliament for Plymouth for 26 years from 1966-92. Under Labour Governments, he served as Navy Minister, Health Minister and Foreign Secretary. He was co-founder of the Social Democratic Party and its Leader from 1983-87 and 1988-90. He was created a Life Baron – Lord Owen of the City of Plymouth – in 1992 and sits as an independent social democrat in the House of Lords.
Mr Peter Hain was a Labour MP for Neath between 1991 and 2015. He was a senior minister for twelve years in Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s governments, where he served as Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland, as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and as Leader of the Commons. He was also Europe Minister, Foreign Minister and Energy Minister. He chaired the UN Security Council, and negotiated international Treaties curbing nuclear proliferation and banning the conflict-inducing trade in blood diamonds.