In the continually changing tapestry of conflict and peace in the Middle East, Turkey is a chameleon-like country, shifting from the background to the forefront in what might seem like the blink of an eye. On Thursday at the Four Seasons Resort Vail, Vail Symposium’s first program of 2019 will delve into Turkey with the latest offering in its geopolitical series, “Turbulent Times: Turkey’s Tenuous Relationship with the West.”
“We’re excited to start 2019 with such a strong program,” said Kris Sabel, executive director of the Vail Symposium. “Our Geopolitical Series is one of most popular offerings and we’re pleased to be able to bring an expert like Kemal Kirisci to speak about—and give insight into—a country that is currently making headlines.”
Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recently been in the news with the exposure of the Saudi Arabian murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and his response to Trump’s decision to pull troops from Syria. This is occurring against the background of democratic regression, rise of religious nationalism and growing economic woes in Turkey, all occurring under his stewardship of the country. Once lauded as a model for democratic transformation and economic success, the growing tensions with the United States and Europe raise significant questions about the future of the Turkish relationship and its role in the greater Middle East.
In this special program, Kemal Kirisci will provide a balanced view of Turkey’s historic and future role, describing the challenges the country faces as well as its potential to advance.
About the speaker
Kemal Kirisci is the TUSIAD senior fellow and director of the Center on the United States and Europe’s Turkey Project at Brookings with an expertise in Turkish foreign policy and migration studies. Within the project, Kirisci runs the Turkey Project Policy Paper series and frequently writes on the latest developments out of Turkey.
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His most recent book, “Turkey and the West: Fault Lines in a Troubled Alliance,” was published by the Brookings Institution Press in November 2017. He is the co-author of the monograph “The Consequences of Chaos: Syria’s Humanitarian Crisis and the Failure to Protect,” which considers the long-term economic, political, and social implications of Syria’s displaced and offers policy recommendations to address the humanitarian crisis.
Before joining Brookings, Kirisci was a professor of international relations and held the Jean Monnet chair in European integration in the department of political science and international relations at Bogazici University in Istanbul. His areas of research interest include EU-Turkish relations, U.S.-Turkish relations, Turkish foreign and trade policies, European integration, immigration issues, ethnic conflicts and refugee movements.
Kirisci earned a doctorate in international relations from the City University, London; a master’s in international relations from the University of Kent at Canterbury, England; and a bachelor’s in finance and management from Bogazici University, Istanbul.
if you go …
What: Turbulent Times: Turkey’s Tenuous Relationship with the West.
When: Thursday, Jan. 3, doors open at 5:30 p.m., program begins at 6 p.m.
Where: Four Seasons Resort Vail.
Cost: $25 in advance, $35 day-of.
Tickets: http://www.vailsymposium.org.