Chairperson’s Message
Dear Students,
The Department of International Relations (IR) at our university was established in the 1997–1998 academic year and is one of the leading departments of our institution. The world’s first IR chair was established in 1919 at the University of Wales in Aberystwyth. Although international relations had previously been studied—particularly within the frameworks of international law and political history—this date marks the formal institutionalization of the discipline. In Turkey, the pioneering institution in the development of IR was the Faculty of Political Science at Ankara University, formerly known as Mülkiye. In the following years, many universities opened IR departments, and today there are over 80 IR departments in Turkey.
In the early years of its formation, the main objective of the IR discipline was to understand the causes of war, to prevent the repetition of the suffering caused by war, and to ensure lasting peace. However, with the influence of socio-economic changes, IR has undergone rapid transformation. Indeed, it is one of the fastest-evolving disciplines within the social sciences. Globalization has undoubtedly played a significant role in this transformation. The dynamics of globalization have highlighted the international dimensions of many social phenomena, thereby reinforcing the importance of IR among other social sciences. This has broadened and deepened the scope of discussions within the field. Topics such as human rights, environmental issues, identity, terrorism, migration, and global inequality have now become central areas of inquiry alongside traditional issues of war and peace.
Our department's curriculum has been designed with this diversity in mind. We aim, above all, to equip our students with a strong theoretical foundation so they can understand the historical development of the discipline and critically analyze the events happening around them. At the same time, we offer a core program covering essential areas of IR such as International Politics, International Law, Foreign Policy Analysis, International Organizations, Political History, and International Political Economy. Additionally, we provide region-specific courses focusing on Europe, Russia, China, the Middle East, and the Balkans, all taught by our highly qualified faculty members. These courses allow our students to choose electives based on their own interests. Furthermore, Erasmus agreements signed by our university enable our students to have the opportunity to study abroad.
With the growing scope and depth of our academic program, career opportunities for our graduates have significantly expanded. Our graduates find employment in both the public and private sectors. Institutions such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Undersecretariat of Treasury, foreign relations departments of various ministries, and international organizations offer a range of career opportunities. Similarly, banks, corporations, research and media institutions, and non-governmental organizations in the private sector also present various job prospects. Our department consistently produces competent graduates who succeed in all these areas.
We would be delighted to welcome you to our department.
Prof.Dr. Faruk Yalvaç