In the last decades, the Republic of Türkiye has become once more a major player on the international scene, while its institutions seemingly changing constantly. Therefore, this course investigates the imperial origins and future perspectives of the modern Turkish Republic, and how the Turks see themselves. In order to answer these questions, the course starts from the heyday of the old Ottoman Empire (16th-18th century), subsequently analyzing its crisis and decline, and the birth of the modern post-Ottoman states after World War I (19th-21st century), with the Republic of Turkey-Türkiye as one of the main heir states of the Empire. Starting from the 16th century, the course focuses mainly on the transformations occurred between the 19th and 20th century which led to contemporary Türkiye from the Young Turks and the time of Atatürk to the current President Erdoğan. Finally, it will reflect on possible future evolutions of Turkish foreign policy and international position and its importance for world balance. This Academic Travel course will take students to Türkiye, and specifically İstanbul. This metropolis presents itself as a global city always at the center of the political and social transformations of the eastern Mediterranean and the wider world.
- Teacher: Giorgio Ennas