Center for Gulf Studies and Global Policy has been established within Ibn Haldun University. The center was born out of the necessity to address the central position of the Gulf region within the reshaping geopolitical landscape of the 21st century, guided by academic rigor and a strategic vision. The center’s fundamental purpose is to ensure the production of theoretical knowledge by analyzing the historical, political, economic, and security dynamics of the Gulf through an interdisciplinary perspective, while simultaneously providing science-based and actionable projections for strategic decision-making processes.
In today's world, where the focus of global power struggles has shifted and critical issues from energy security to financial flows are determined along the Gulf axis, the center aims to add intellectual depth to Türkiye's regional vision by acting as an institutional bridge between academic units, public diplomacy actors, and strategic stakeholders. The international-standard research and conference infrastructure provided by Ibn Haldun University’s Başakşehir campus constitutes the physical and technical foundation of this academic vision.
In the current academic environment in Türkiye, Gulf studies are often conducted in a scattered, uncoordinated manner, usually treated as a secondary topic under the broad umbrella of "Middle Eastern Studies", which creates a strategic vacuum. The center, therefore, represents the first and pioneering movement toward the institutionalization of Gulf studies in Türkiye. Our structure, which aims to overcome the methodological constraints of existing academic programs, creates a distinct area of specialization with a scale and focus unparalleled in the country. The initiative to institutionalize the field of Gulf studies according to scientific standards forms the core of our center's claim to leadership. Aiming to bring together fragmented individual studies onto a common platform, the center pledges to become a point of reference at both national and international levels by enriching the Gulf literature in Türkiye with primary sources, Ottoman archival documents, and original field data.
Today, the Gulf region is neither merely an energy basin nor a localized conflict zone. On the contrary, it is a key equation for both the strategic autonomy of Turkish foreign policy and the quest for new balances within the international system. In terms of Turkish foreign policy, the Gulf represents an expansive area of cooperation ranging from the defense industry to logistical corridors and direct investments, while also rising to the position of a decisive actor in the regional security architecture.
The primary purpose of the center is to be the leading institutional and academic interlocutor for all actors wishing to conduct scientific research, develop cooperation, or generate strategic policy recommendations regarding the Gulf countries and the Middle East specifically. Another purpose of our Center is to cultivate the qualified human resources increasingly required by public and private institutions in Türkiye concerning the Gulf region.
The institutional networks to be established with Gulf countries, which have become proactive powers seeking strategic autonomy on an international scale, will serve as the academic and strategic vanguard in building a shared vision for the future, moving Türkiye-Gulf relations beyond incidental interactions. In this regard, the center will organize periodic meetings, panels, seminars, workshops, summer schools, and international conferences to inform national and international public opinion and contribute to the production of scientific knowledge regarding Gulf countries.
The Center for Gulf Studies and Global Policy will be directed by Prof. Dr. İsmail Numan Telci, Head of the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Ibn Haldun University. Dr. Ömer Behram Özdemir, a faculty member in the same department, will also serve at the Center.
The Center aims to bring together a dynamic network of resident and non-resident fellows from across Türkiye and around the world. In this context, prominent scholars in the field of Gulf studies, including Associate Professor Dr. Mustafa Yetim from Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Dr. Mustafa Caner from Sakarya University, and Dr. Gökhan Ereli, will contribute to the Center’s activities with their expertise.
