Servis Training Programs

Program for Field Studies

This training program, as part of the Preparatory Training Program designed for career officials, provides attendees with a chance to tackle current issues of international agenda, examine regional dynamics with their historical backgrounds and discuss topics such as terrorism and geopolitics.

Course Modules

• The Middle East and North Africa Studies
• Eurasian Studies
• The Balkans and the Black Sea Studies
• European Union Studies
• Global Studies
• Political Geography and Geopolitics
• Terrorism and International Politics
• Readings in Philosophy

Module Contents

The Middle East and North Africa Studies

In order to understand recent foreign policy changes about the Middle East and North Africa this course provides basic information about these regions. The course makes an introduction to the geographical, demographic and religious borders of the Middle East and North Africa and then proceeds with Palestinian Conflict, which is a determinant factor for relations within the region. The course also discusses ideological differences among countries in the Cold War Era as well as the roots of competition among them. In order to better understand the international relations within the region, the course discusses thematic subjects such as Iraq, Iran, nationality, social movements and political economy. The last part of the course deals with the latest developments in the region within the framework of Arab Spring and their effects on Turkish Foreign Policy regarding the Middle East and North Africa.

Eurasian Studies

This course examines major issues of Eurasia i.e. security, socio-politics and culture. With the purpose of analyzing recent developments in Eurasia in terms of their potential effects on Türkiye, the course examines the history of Eurasia by focusing on Pre-Tsarist period, Tsarist period and transformation period after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Following parts of the course deals with principles of Russian Foreign Policy in the post-Soviet Period together with its policies on Euro-Atlantic, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions. Final part of the course analyzes changing international tendencies in Eastern Slavic, Caucasian and Central Asia regions of Eurasia. This part highlights the history, socio-economic structure and foreign policies of these countries together with their policies to strengthen their sovereignty in the post-Soviet period by establishing new partnerships with regional and global actors.

The Balkans and the Black Sea Studies

States in the Balkans and the Black Sea Region, after the cold war, are repositioning themselves in today’s international system. They are developing on the one hand multi-dimensional relations with Euro-Atlantic organizations and on the other hand cooperation mechanisms among themselves. This course draws a conceptual/theoretical frame of these two regions, which partially overlap, and then analyzes historical events and current issues in these regions. Turkish Foreign Policy and policies of other leading international actors towards the region are also analyzed in the course.

European Union Studies

The main target of this course is to provide the necessary knowledge to comprehend European Integration Process. In order to understand Union’s position and to discuss the challenges it faces, the course draws the historical and theoretical frame of this process from economic, political, social and legal aspects. In this context, the course deals with the function, law and policy of the EU in addition to analysis of the political and economic integration process; and more specifically, discusses EU’s Foreign Policy, enlargement policy and contents of major common policy areas and policy making processes. The course also covers important concepts and subjects such as “Sovereignty”, “European Identity”, “Immigration and Asylum”, and “Charter of Fundamental Rights in the European Integration Process”.

Global Studies

Discussing globalization, one of the major dynamics of today’s international relations, is the primary goal of this course. The course makes in-depth analyses about various issues and affairs related to globalization. Some of these issues are the challenges which originate from global politics, economics, culture and technology, and issues which globalization must cope with. The course aims to create discussion opportunities on causes and results of globalization

The course is consisted of three main parts as definitions, history and theories on globalization. Subsequent parts closely probes into various problems related to globalization. Another important part of the course tries to underline the reasons behind the strong resistance to globalization with reference to globalization discussions in Türkiye.

Political Geography and Geopolitics

The purpose of this course is to analytically discuss political geography, geopolitics and their effects on world politics. The course begins with a historical and conceptual introduction to political geography and geopolitics and then discusses different perspectives regarding the conceptualization of world of politics in a geographical and geopolitical context. The final part of the course analyzes how phenomena such as religion, civilization, culture and identity affect international politics.

Terrorism and International Politics

This course makes a basic introduction to conceptual, theoretical and analytical approaches to terrorism with detailed analyses of historical and current terrorism issues. The course invites attendees to understand the issues on the agenda through objective analysis. By addressing the issues at theoretical and practical levels, the course seeks to develop new policies against terrorism.

Readings in Philosophy

This course offers the basic perspective to read and comprehend philosophy with its thousands years old historical and cultural development. Main objectives of the course are creating opportunities for quality thinking, analytical questioning and systematic criticism.

The course also seeks to equip the attendees with necessary capabilities to produce new attitudes and better positions for intellectual problems that they encounter in their personal and social lives. The course also includes exercises to strengthen attendees’ analytical and synthesis skills.