KU conference will commemorate 100 years of the Turkish Republic

LAWRENCE — An event at the University of Kansas will bring together experts in the politics and history of Turkey to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the republic.

100 Years of the Republic of Turkey/Türkiye: Cycles, Continuity & Change will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 20 in the Malott Room of the Kansas Union, featuring scholars from Kansas and across the nation. The topics will capture Turkey’s politics, state and society relations; the Kurdish issue; and Turkish foreign policy. It will culminate in a roundtable to discuss the direction the republic is headed over the next 100 years.

“We are thrilled to be hosting great scholars and experts on the broad scope of Turkish politics and society over the last century. People are not going to want to miss these excellent talks on critical topics that shed light and insight into Turkey while simultaneously reflecting back on issues of global importance,” said Mike Wuthrich, associate professor of political science and associate director of the Center for Global & International Studies.

Arash Mafi, executive dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at KU, will deliver the opening remarks at the event. Other presenters are as follows:

• “Turkish Political Leadership and the Under-appreciated Legacy of İsmet and Erdal İnönü,” by Mike Wuthrich, KU
• “National Holidays in the Making of Modern Turkey,” by Hale Yilmaz, associate professor of history, Southern Illinois University
• “The New Turkey, the Middle East, and the Kurds Between Them,” by Mehmet Gurses, professor and chair, political science, Florida Atlantic University
• “One Hundred Years of Turkish Foreign Policy: Demystifying the Roles of Identity, Security, and Economic Interest,” Sabri Ciftci, professor of political science, Kansas State University

 Schedule, speaker bios, and paper abstracts can be found at 100 years of the Republic of Turkey/Türkiye.