This two-day seminar is for Turkish and Norwegian Scholars to come together to discuss the democratization processes in the wake of the Arab Spring. The role of Turkey, processes of change in the geopolitics of the Middle East and Syria and the Arab Spring are also on the agenda on the first day of this seminar. The topics for the second day are student and faculty exchanges between Norway and Turkey and lessons to be learned from mediation in Cyprus, Balkans and the Oslo Process.
Attendance at this seminar is by invitation only.
Thursday May 23rd
Venue: Hotel Bristol
10:00 – 10:15 Welcome address
Daniel Heradstveit
10:15 – 11:00 Introductory discussions
G. Matthew Bonham (moderator)
Before we start the plenum sessions each team composed of one from Turkey and one from Norway should spend some time discussing the topic they are asked to introduce between themselves. This in order to identify problem areas that they both agree on would be fruitful and of interest for further discussions in plenum.
Session 1
11:00–12:00 Democratization processes in the wake of the Arab Spring
Esra Çuhadar & Bernt Hagtvet
Session 2
12:00 – 13:00 The role of Turkey
Meliha Altunışık & Frank Aarebrot
13:00–14:00 Lunch
Session 3
14:00– 15:00 Processes of change in the geopolitics of the Middle East
Mustafa Aydin & Per Erik Solli
Session 4
15:00–16:00 Syria and the Arab Spring
Mensur Akgün & Jan Egeland
16:00–17:00 Concluding discussion: What is there to be gained by closer cooperation between Norway and Turkey
Siri Neset
19:30 Dinner
Friday May 24th
Venue: NUPI
Session 1
10:00–11:00 Student and faculty exchanges between Norway and Turkey
Terje Hagen University of Oslo
Session 2
11:00 – 12:00 Lessons to be learned from mediation in Cyprus, Balkans and the Oslo Process
Sylvia Tiryaki & Thorvald Stoltenberg
12:00–12:30 Concluding remarks
G. Matthew Bonham
13:00– 15:00 Lunch at Frognerseteren