Message from the Head of the Department

Dear Students,

International Relations, in broad terms, is a discipline concerned with the structure and functioning of the international system and with the communication and interaction among the actors operating within this system. These actors include, first and foremost, states, which are regarded as the principal actors of international relations, as well as international, regional, and intergovernmental organizations, multinational corporations, international norms, and international communities. Accordingly, the discipline encompasses a wide range of areas of study, including globalization, state sovereignty, international security, ecological sustainability, nuclear proliferation, nationalism, economic development, global finance, terrorism, organized crime, human security, foreign intervention, and human rights.

Situated at the intersection of various fields—particularly political science, as well as law, economics, business administration, sociology, anthropology, psychology, cultural studies, and history—International Relations is therefore defined as an interdisciplinary field. In a rapidly changing and increasingly globalized world, the discipline seeks to understand, through critical thinking and knowledge-based analysis, the social, political, economic, and cultural transformations of countries and societies, the activities of governments, political systems, and the relationship between politics and society.

Within this framework, our Department aims to equip students with the ability to think analytically and critically about international developments, as well as political and social issues that closely concern Türkiye and the wider world. We seek to provide our students with the necessary academic and intellectual foundations and the skills required to analyze contemporary issues in international politics, thereby preparing them for their future careers. In line with their individual interests and aspirations, our graduates will have opportunities to pursue postgraduate education or careers in public institutions, the private sector, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the media.

To achieve these goals, our students are expected to be eager to develop strong reading and writing skills, committed to learning foreign languages, and prepared to work diligently.

If you are ready to work hard, learn, and build a successful career, we look forward to welcoming you to our Department.

Head of the Department of International Relations
Prof. Dr. Hülya TOKER