İlter Turan

Dr. İlter Turan serves as Professor Emeritus of Political Science in the Department of International Relations at Istanbul Bilgi University, where he previously served as President from 1998 to 2001, following positions at Koç University and Istanbul University, where he chaired the International Relations Department. His academic credentials include a BA from Oberlin College, an MA from Columbia University, and a PhD from Istanbul University, establishing the foundation for his influential career in political science. His leadership in the field is exemplified through his roles as Past President of the International Political Science Association and the Turkish Political Science Association, while his scholarly impact extends through numerous publications in English and Turkish on comparative politics, Turkish politics, and foreign policy. His most recent book "Turkey's Difficult Journey to Democracy," published by Oxford University Press, reflects his expertise in Turkish democratization and political institutions. As a regular columnist for the economics daily Dünya and frequent media commentator, he continues to shape public discourse on Turkish politics and international relations. His service on various corporate and foundation boards complements his academic work, demonstrating his broad influence across sectors. Born in Istanbul in 1941, his career spans over five decades of contributions to political science scholarship and public understanding of Turkish democracy and international relations.