LIBERALISM: VALUES AND COMPARATIVE PRACTICES Istanbul, September 2013

Transcription

1 LIBERALISM: VALUES AND COMPARATIVE PRACTICES Istanbul, September 2013 Gezi Park Movement and the repercussions of a gradually fading Arab Spring : What do they have in common? Let us take one aspect into special consideration which is crucial at least for liberals and liberal values. When we talk about the targets and achievements of the Gezi Park Movement for civil liberties, the Syrian Arab Winter or the Egyptian Coup d Etat against a Muslim Brotherhooddominated government undeniably legitimized by democratic elections, certain questions and doubts pop up again and again, i.a.: Does the (liberal) West not apply double standards when it comes to benchmarking a democratic development? Does the (liberal) Western concept of the secular state not fail when confronted with deep-rooted religious values? Is the (liberal) Western concept of universal human rights indeed adaptable to non-western societies? These and other important questions which dominate current discussions in many parts of the world are right in the center of our seminar. Each participant is invited to freely and adequately make use of this liberal discussion platform. Working languages: Turkish (plus English translation service on the 3rd and 4th day)

2 Ms. Susanne Hartig Ms.Susanne Hartig has served as Executive Director of the European Liberal Forum asbl. (ELF) since ELF is the European political foundation of the ELDR party. Previously, she held the position of Programme Director at the Brussels office of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty, the German foundation for liberal politics. Susanne Hartig holds a master s degree in Political Science and was educated at the University of Münster/Germany and at the University of Dublin, Trinity College/Ireland. Mr. Hans-Georg Fleck Mr. Hans-Georg Fleck was born in 1953 (Trier/Germany), he studied Medieval, Modern and Eastern European History, Political Science and Scandinavian Languages at the University of Bonn, Würzburg and Cologne. He holds a Ph.D. of Cologne University presenting his dissertation on German trade union history. Staring in 1991, he worked as Project Director for Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty in Poland, afterwards in the West Balkan (predominantly Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegowina) and in Israel/Palestine. He is married and the father of three children. Since July 2012, he is the head of the foundation s Istanbul Office for Turkey. Mr. Arnoud Willemsen Mr. Arnoud Willemsen works as Policy Advisor for Economic Affairs for the VVD parliamentary group in the lower house of the Dutch parliament. His duties are preparation of parliamentary debates, media interviews, internal discussion papers and parliamentary questions. Before started working in the parliament Mr. Willemsen was a Policy Advisor on European Economic Affairs from Mr. Bican Şahin Mr. Bican Şahin was born in He received his Ph.D. in politics at the University of Maryland, USA. He teaches political philisophy, history of political and economical taught, classical liberalism and libertarianism at Hacettepe University and at ALT (Association for Liberal Thinking) seminars. His book 'Toleration: The Liberal Virtue' was published both in English and Arabic. He edited a book titled 'Democracy Debates'. Mr. Şahin is the president of ALT. Mr.Joris Backer Mr. Joris Backer is senator for D66 in the Netherlands. As a long standing member of the party, he has been the author of numerous election programs for national and European elections. Mr. Backer is also credited for having formulated five guiding principles that are testimony to D66 as a progressive and social-liberal party. Mr. Joris Backer has a judicial background; he held positions as international legal counsel and director of corporate and legal affairs at Shiphol Airport. Furthermore, Mr. Backer is chairman of Hans van Mierlo Fundation, the science and knowledge institute of D66.

3 Mr. Bahattin Karademir Mr. Bahattin Karademir is an Associate Professor of Strategic Management at Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey. His reserch interests include the formation, evolution, and the internationalization of emerging market business groups and multinationals. He has published in academic journals including Journal of World Business (SSCI), International Marketing Review (SSCI), Handbook of Institutional Approaches to International Business (Edward Elgar), and Advances in International Marketing (Elsevier). He teaches strategic management and international business courses Mr. Bekir Berat Özipek Mr. Bekir Berat Özipek graduated from Hacettepe University, Department of Public Administration in He took his master degree at the same university, PhD at Ankara University in Political scientist, Assoc. Dr. Bekir Berat Özipek is a faculty member of Istanbul Commerce University. Mr. Özipek, who is a member of Association for Liberal Thinking, has been working mainly on contemporary political theory, human rights and academic freedom and freedom of expression in this context. Conservatism: Mind, Society, Politics" and "Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Freedom of Expression which has been edited by him are some of the publications of Mr. Özipek, who is one of the experts of Conservatism" ideology in Turkey. Mr. Özipek is also a columnist for Today's Zaman.

4 10 September 2013 till 17h00 18h00 Arrival of the participants Welcome and Opening Ms. Susanne Hartig, Executive Director, ELF Dr. Hans-Georg Fleck, Resident Representative of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty (FNF) 18h15 Introduction of Participants - Expectation of Participants («Ice breaking session «) Faciliated by Dr. Bahattin Karademir, Assistant Professor of Management and Organizations at Cukurova University and Aret Demirci, Programme Director at FNF 19h30 21h00 Dinner END OF FIRST DAY 11 September h00 10h30 Introduction to the program by moderators MORNING SESSION Liberal Values: What are we talking about? Moderators//Speakers: Dr. Bahattin Karademir, Assistant Professor of Management and Organizations at Cukurova University, and Dr.Bican Şahin, Department of Public Administration and Political Science, Hacettepe University 13h30 15h00 LUNCH AFTERNOON SESSION What are the challenges according to liberal values in our society? Liberal values and their relevance for our domestic day-to-day politics Moderators//Speakers: Dr. Bahattin Karademir and Dr.Bican Şahin 19h00 20h30 DINNER MOVIE

5 12 September h00 MORNING SESSION Economic aspects of liberalism: idea of market economy, competition, globalization and entrepreneurship Moderator: Dr. Bahattin Karademir Debate on limits of government regarding health, security and education Speaker: Dr.Bican Şahin 13h00 14h00 LUNCH AFTERNOON SESSION I The relation between economy and politics: free Trade and democracy Speaker: Dr. Bahattin Karademir 16h30 AFTERNOON SESSION II Political aspects of liberalism: freedom, rule of law, human rights, liberal democracy Moderator: Dr.Bican Şahin Political aspects of liberalism from European point of view Speaker: Joris Backer, Member of the Dutch Senate (for Democrats 66/D66) 19h00 20h30 DINNER EVENING TALKS (on special invitation by Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty) Liberal values from Turkish perspective Speaker: Prof.Dr. Bekir Berat Özipek, International Affairs, Istanbul Commerce University

6 13 September h00 MORNING SESSION Economic aspects of liberalism from European point of view Speaker: Arnoud Willemsen, Policiy Advisor for Economic Affairs at the VVD 11h30 FINAL DISCUSSION Speaker: Dr.Bican Şahin 13h00 LUNCH 14h00 EXCURSION 19h00 EVALUATION 20h00 FAREWELL DINNER and CERTIFICATE CEREMONY END OF DAY 14 September h00 END OF EVENT & DEPARTURE

7 European Liberal Forum asbl. Square de Meeuûs Brussels / Belgium Phone: +32 (0) Fax: +32 (0) facebook.com/europeanliberalforum twitter.com/eurliberalforum #ELFevent A seminar organised by the European Liberal Forum (ELF) with support of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty, International Democratic Initiative (IDI) and Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie International (VVD Int.) Funded by the European Parliament.