bridging the intellectual gap’
The Incek Debates, founded in 2016, is a civil society initiative, intended for an open and
in-depth analysis of issues having an impact on Turkey’s defence, security, foreign policy and
international relations, in a multinational setting. Debates bring together foreign experts
working in related fields, public servants, military officers and other officials in foreign
embassies in Turkey with Turkish scholars and researchers, journalists, MPs, former
policymakers, advisors, diplomats and other practitioners. Officials who are currently
occupying relevant posts are also invited as speakers or participants. Debates are open to
public and widest participation is encouraged. However, due to space limitations, advance
registration is required and some of the debates are by invitation only. 1
The Incek Debates serves as an informed and independent voice in policy debates by
providing a constructive forum for exchange of ideas and information between key
stakeholders. The main aim is to develop and improve mutual understanding in perceptions,
policies, interests, limitations and hurdles, thereby contributing to a better decision-making
environment in which regional security risks, threats to global stability and rule-based
international order as well as East-West relations in the widest sense can be more efficiently
dealt with. We aim to bridge the gap between the knowledge -- based on academic clarity and
intellectual responsibility -- and political power by linking policymakers and other stake
holders to the world of thoughts, by identifying, articulating and evaluating current or
emerging issues and by transforming ideas into policy options for policy formulation and
reviews.
We consider the active role and viability of think-tanks a critical indicator of a healthy
democracy and see such debates as an essential means of democratic participation. Because,
as long as the ‘state’ remains the sole provider of information and analysis, the society as a
whole is deprived of critical means of addressing problems faced by the very public.
The Incek Debates, in the course of 2016-2020, was kindly hosted by the 21st Century Turkey
Institute. After a five-year interlude, this time hosted by the New World Research Center
(Yeni Dünya Araştırmaları Merkezi, YDAM https://www.ydam.org.tr/) Debates returned in
2025.
Incek Debates may take the forms of conferences, public lectures, panels or roundtable
discussions. The results of the debates and analyses are made available to inform the policy
debate by providing ‘Rapporteur Summaries’ and by posting them on the YDAM web-site. To
these ends, we also aim to participate in debates in Parliamentary Committees/sub-
committees, reach out to the media, academia and are eager for cooperation with other think
tanks—Turkish, foreign and international alike.
Debates are held in English 2 , organised and chaired by Dr. Haldun Solmazturk.
1 In debates, no voice or visual record is taken and Chatham House Rule strictly applies; that is “participants are
free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any
other participant, may be revealed”.
2 Limited Turkish translation can be used in order to benefit from expert inputs and/or during Q&A."