The themes of “Turkey’s Changing World Vision” session were increasing positive expectations about the likelihood of the establishment of a more peaceful and fair world, the increase in the ethnical and cultural conflicts in the 1990s, the terrorist attacks such as September 11 and negative scenarios after the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq due to these terrorist attacks, no establishment of a stable international system instead of insecure but stable bipolar structure, gradual weakening of the structural factors of American centered hegemony, a new period in which new political actors has been developing as a natural outcome of the globalization process and how this period will be shaped, “Center-Surrounding Dualism” in the 1970s and 80s, and the structure of global system explained with the models such as “The End of History” and “The Clash of Civilizations” at the beginning of 90s.

The opening speech of the first session was made by SDE Chairman Prof. Dr. Yasin Aktay. In his speech, Mr. Aktay talked about the change in power balances, Islamophobia, the clash of religions, and globalization. Aktay:

“Sometimes the global balances can significantly change in a century more than once. For example, while we live in a nearly mono-polar American century now, we sometimes think that this power is eternal and never ending. However, we should remember that until the last 150 years the United States of America fell off the map in comparison to the international power balances.”

“All states want themselves live forever; protect their power; and show it to the world. However, according to Ibn Khaldun’s well-known sociological observation every state has an average life expectancy and if one wishes this period can be extendable; yet one cannot be endless. To see that the global power balances will never be endlessly steady is a necessity to attach importance to a historical reality.”

“In the last two centuries, the global power balances have been changing relatively faster. A perception of eternity can be shaken radically during a lifetime of a person at most. In the early 1990s the US occupied Iraq by claiming a mission to establish a new world order; but right after, the argument of the end of history which became a very hot issue with the depiction and announcement of “the New World Order” was invalidated by new developments in the world in an extremely short time.”

The effects of Islamophobia spreading to the whole world after the September 11 attacks, has been increasing perilously each passing day. It is indispensable that the same religious hatred will find place in Islam against other religions, as well. Therefore, religious tensions and perceptions may startlingly find place in history which should never happen at the end of history.”

After Aktay’s opening speech, the first speaker of the first session was Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Relations Prof. Dr. Ahmet Davutoglu. Davutoglu made his speech via teleconference.

During his speech, Minister of Foreign Relations Prof. Dr. Ahmet Davutoglu mentioned those points:

“With the changing power balances and the Cold War, we are in a period in which the power balances are constantly changing. The searches for a new order have not been put in order after the Cold War. And under these circumstances, unproductiveness came into light. This unproductiveness had close relations with three points:

“Global-Political order; we can also call it the period of ceasefires. In the Balkans, the Caucasus, and the Middle East a set of clashes happened and armistices were signed. The hierarchical scene in current UN Security Council structure reflects not present conditions but the conditions after the Second World War. And this structure causes the regional crises not to be handled properly. That is why, there is a need for new initiatives that will ensure stability. Now all actors should evaluate this situation calmly.”

“Global-Economic order; and for this issue there is a need for a new global economic system. An economic structure determined only by G-8 countries is not enough. With the participation of more actors, a new economic structure is needed.”

“Global-Cultural order; there is a tension between East-West and Islam-Christianity. Those need to be eliminated.”

For that reason, there is a need for a new, more just, and more interactive structure with the participation of all actors. In this sense, Turkey’s role is extremely significant. Particularly for the global problems occurring in 2000s, Turkey played serious roles.”

“While Turkey performs its role, it does this with a set of missions; higher political structure, cultural majority against regional crises…”

“Our goal is to make Turkey more active and to use all opportunities for this goal in order to provide regional and global peace at the center of Afro-Asia.”

The meeting was chaired by SDE Board Member Prof. Dr. Beril Dedeoglu. And the negotiators were Prof. Dr. Richard Falk from Princeton University (International Law) and Dr. Sahin Alpay from Bahcesehir University.

Prof. Dr. Richard Falk started his speech by saying that Turkey is very lucky because it has a minister of foreign relations such like Ahmet Davutoglu. He also said that Moving with both conceptual and theoretical understanding Turkey, should see this as a chance. He underlined that Turkey also pays attention to cultural sensibilities in this period. Its foreign policy activities not only affect itself but also other countries.

He emphasized that there are various ideas about the concept of “changing power balances in the world” which was frequently mentioned during the meeting. He pointed out that the concept of “power” needs to be laid emphasis on, as well. The question of how power should be organized so that it can be active in the region was discussed. He stated that there is a need for a reasonable, tactically successful, smartly controllable soft power.

After explaining how “power” should be used Falk, touched the issue of how non-state actors and civil social organizations take role in this process.

Dr. Şahin Alpay emphasized that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) moves with three main principles while meeting the necessities of foreign politics: zero problem with neighbors, solving problems diplomatically by dialogs, and Turkey’s closer relations with the region.

Indicating these three principles Alpay, stated that there is no need to take notice of change in the rotation of politics under these circumstances. Saying that Turkey is a country suggesting peace both in the region and the world, he indicated Turkey’s importance. He stated that in order to perform its duty more properly, Turkey needs to make some arrangements in its structure. According to him, Turkey should also solve the PKK problem and make the PKK disarm.

Turkey applies zero-problem policy very well. However, Turkey comes to a dead end because of the problems (the relations with Armenia); the border gates should be opened to solve the problems and he stated that he constantly hears people say “open the doors, solve the terror problem”.

After the negotiators’ speeches, the first session ended with the question-answer part.