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About the group

Legal basis

The Group was established by the Institute of Political Science, University of Warsaw, in May 2014 in accordance with the ”Ordinance of the Director of the Institute of Political Science [Prof. Stanisław Sulowski] of 15 May 2014 on forming the Research Group for Contemporary Turkey in the Institute of Political Science, University of Warsaw.”

Goals

  1. Carrying out research on the contemporary Turkish politics, with particular focus on comparative studies on the political systems and foreign policy of Turkey and Poland/other states from Central and Eastern Europe, first of all the Visegrad Group.
  2. Development of cooperation between scholars in Poland (later also in Central and Eastern Europe) working on the Turkish issues (integration of experts and academic circles) as well as between the Polish and Turkish scholars.
  3. Development of cooperation with Polish and Turkish analytical centres and institutions of public administration (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, institutions responsible for shaping the Polish-Turkish relations).
  4. Supporting the research activities of Polish students/PhD students working on Turkish issues.
  5. Dissemination of knowledge about Turkey in Poland (and about Poland in Turkey)

Tasks

  1. Preparing publications
  2. Organising conferences and seminars in Poland and Turkey
  3. Participation of members of the Research Group in conferences in Poland and abroad
  4. Organising lectures of leading Turkish political scientists
  5. Organising workshops with the participation of experts on Turkey aimed at supporting theses of students and PhD students
  6. Dissemination of research results through the media

Members of the Research Group

Faculty of Political Science and International Studies of the University of Warsaw: Özgür Soner, MA (Institute of Political Science, UW), Prof. Adam Szymański (Institute of Political Science, UW) – Head of the Research Group, Aleksandra Gasztold, PhD (Institute of Political Science, UW).

Other Faculties of the University of Warsaw and other universities as well as research and analytical institutions: Andrzej Adamczyk, PhD (Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce), Artur Adamczyk, PhD (Centre for Europe, UW), Karol Bieniek, PhD (Institute of Law, Administration and Economics, KEN Pedagogical University, Kraków), Joanna Bocheńska, PhD (Institute of Oriental Studies, Section of Kurdish Studies, Jagiellonian University), Prof. Danuta Chmielowska (Centre for Europe, UW), Mateusz Chudziak MA (Centre for Eastern Studies), Prof. Wojciech Forysiński (Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta), Karol Kaczorowski, PhD (Philosophy Faculty, Jagiellonian University), Karol Kujawa, PhD (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, The Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center), Justyna Misiągiewicz, PhD (Faculty of Political Science, UMCS Lublin), Piotr Nykiel, PhD (Institute of Oriental Studies, Jagiellonian University), Prof. Przemysław Osiewicz (Faculty of Political Science and Journalism, UAM Poznań), Kinga Smoleń, PhD (Faculty of Political Science, UMCS Lublin), Magdalena Szkudlarek, PhD (Faculty of Political Science and Journalism, UAM Poznań), Karol Wasilewski, MA (Polish Institute of International Affairs), Jakub Wódka, PhD (Institute of Political Studies, Polish Academy of Science) – Deputy Head of the Research Group, Agata Wójcik, MA (Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures, Polish Academy of Science), Agnieszka Zastawna-Templin, PhD (Department of Turkish Studies and Inner Asian Peoples, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Warsaw), Konrad Zasztowt, PhD (Department for European Islam Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies, UW).

Head of the Group

Photo: Marcin Gregorczyk

Adam Szymański

Associate professor in the Institute of Political Science, University of Warsaw, in 2004-2011 also analyst in the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM). Scholarship holder of the Program Start 2007 of the Foundation for Polish Science (2007 and 2008), the project Modern University (2010) and the programme for outstanding young scholars-foreigners of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey – TÜBITAK (2012) as well as at universities in Ankara (METU), Belfast, Berlin (FU), Bonn, Budapest, Konstanz, Istanbul (Istanbul University, Koç University), Tampere and Vienna. Head of the Warsaw Branch of the Polish Political Science Association (PTNP), member of the Polish European Studies Association (PTSE). Member of the International Political Science Association (IPSA) – including membership in the executive committee of the Research Committee no. 03 – European Unification and vice-chairmanship in the Research Committee no. 13 – Democratisation in Comparative Perspective, working groups “Religion and Politics”, “Politics of Southern Europe”, and “European Union” of the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) and University Association for the Contemporary European Studies (UACES). Member of the European Social Movements Research Network and Collaborative Research Network "Centrifugal Europe: State, sovereignty and the future of European integration". Author of more than 100 publications: books, articles in domestic and foreign periodicals as well as analyses and expert opinions - on the European integration, political systems of selected states as well as international relations.

Research areas

  • European integration: enlargement of the European Union, EU-Turkey relations, Europeanisation and de-Europeanisation, EU citizenship;
  • Political system and foreign policy of Turkey;
  • Comparative studies – Poland and Turkey;
  • Democratisation and de-democratisation in comparative perspective;
  • Islam and Muslim countries; Islam and democracy;
  • Post-national form of citizenship.

 Main publications

Books:

a) Author

- „Między islamem a kemalizmem. Problem demokracji w Turcji” (“Between Islam and Kemalism. The Problem of Democracy in Turkey”), Warsaw 2008

-Rozszerzanie Unii Europejskiej – współczesne uwarunkowania i perspektywy kontynuacji procesu”/”European Union Enlargement – Contemporary Determinants and Prospects for Continuation of the Process”, Warsaw 2012 (bilingual publication)

- „System konstytucyjny Turcji” (“Constitutional System of Turkey”), Warsaw 2006

- „Wielkie Zgromadzenie Narodowe Turcji”, (“The Grand National Assembly of Turkey”), Warsaw 2005

- „Zmiana polityki rozszerzania Unii Europejskiej – ujęcie instytucjonalne” (“Change in the Enlargement Policy of the European Union – Institutional Approach”), Warsaw 2014

b) Editor

-„Turcja i Europa – wyzwania i szanse” (“Turkey and Europe – Challenges and Opportunities”), A. Szymański (ed.), Warsaw 2011 (including Wprowadzenie, pp. 11-19 i Zakończenie, pp. 295-304)

-“Turkey and Europe – Challenges and Opportunities”, A. Szymański (ed.), a revised version of the Polish book, Warsaw 2012 (including Introduction, pp. 11-19 and Conclusion, pp. 281-290)

Articles/Chapters:

- „Austria – Prawie pełna kontynuacja” (“Austria – almost full continuity”), in: L. Jesień (ed.), „Zmiana i kontynuacja. Polityka europejska wybranych państw UE” (“Change and Continuity. European Politics of Selected States”), Warszawa 2008, pp. 23-58

- “Citizenship of the European Union – in the direction of the post-national model?” (with Jolanta Szymańska), in: A. Rothert (ed.), “The Processes of Transnational Governance”, Warsaw 2014, pp.145-165

- „De-Europeanisation and De-Democratisation in the EU and Its Neighbourhood”, Yearbook of the Institute of East-Central Europe, vol. 15, no. 2, 2017, pp. 187-211.

- “Der islamische Fundamentalismus – stellt er eine Bedrohung für die türkische Demokratie dar?”, Zeitschrift für Türkeisudien, 1+2/2004, pp. 133-147

- “EU Conditionality: The Case of Turkey, in: Ç. Nas, R. İzci (ed.), “Changing Europe and Turkey: Current Debates”, Istanbul 2010, pp. 15-28 (Turkish version: “AB Koşulluluk Mekanızması: Türkiye Orneği”, in: Ç. Nas, R. İzci (ed.), “Değişen Avrupa ve Türkiye: Güncel Tartışmalar”, Istanbul 2010, pp. 35-48)

- “EU Pre-accession Process of Turkey – Determinants and Prospects”, Przegląd Politologiczny/Political Science Review, No. 1, 2015, pp. 7-20.

- “EU-Turkey Pre-Accession Policy and Its Impact on Democracy and State Quality’, European Foreign Affairs Review, Vol. 17, no.  4/2012, pp. 533-552

- “Halk Tarafından Seçilen Cumhurbaşkanı ve „Başkanlık“ Sistemi – Türkiye Örneği”, in C. Akaş (ed.), “Kritik Kavşak. Parlamenter Sistem – Başkanlık Sistemi”, Istanbul 2015, pp. 111-126

- „Koncepcje alternatywne wobec członkostwa w UE – przypadek Turcji” (Alternatives to EU Membership. The Case of Turkey”), Sprawy Międzynarodowe, 4/2007, pp. 157-175 (English version in: The Polish Quarterly of International Affairs, 4/2007, pp. 55-72)

- „Manipulation of Vote Choice – Impediment to Electoral Integrity in Turkey?”, Przegląd Politologiczny, no. 3, 2017, pp. 103-115.

- „Obywatelstwo miejskie i jego innowacje w miastach Europy” (“Urban Citizenship and Its Innovations in European Cities”), e-Politikon, vol. 13, 2015, pp. 95-124

- „Od autorytaryzmu do demokracji – ewolucja reżimu politycznego Republiki Turcji” (“From Authoritarianism to Democracy – Evolution of the Political Regime in the Republic of Turkey”), Społeczeństwo i Polityka, no. 2, 2009, pp. 90-105

- „Państwo świeckie w Turcji – historyczna i współczesna perspektywa” (“Secular State in Turkey – Historical and Current Perspective”), Studia Politologiczne (Political Science Studies), vol.  42, 2016, pp. 324-346

- „Partia Sprawiedliwości i Rozwoju w Turcji jako inspiracja dla ugrupowań politycznych w krajach arabskich – w kontekście debaty o „tureckim modelu“ (“Justice and Development Party in Turkey as the Inspiration for the Political Parties in Arabic Countries – in the Context of the debate on the ‘Turkish Model‘“), in: F. Ilkowski, S. Sulowski (eds.), „Wybrane idee, partie i organizacje polityczne Bliskiego Wschodu“ (“Selected Ideas, Parties and Political Organizations of the Middle East”), Dom Wydawniczy Elipsa, Warszawa 2014, pp. 85-10

- “Polish Perceptions”, in: S. Akşit, Ö. Şenyuva, Ç. Üstün (ed.), “Turkey Watch. EU Member States’ Perceptions on the Turkey’s Accession to the EU”, Ankara 2010, pp. 133-151

-„Polityka zagraniczna Turcji w latach 2007-2009: kontynuacja czy zmiana?” (“Foreign Policy of Turkey in 2007-2009: Continuity or Change?”), Polski Przegląd Dyplomatyczny, no. 2, 2009, pp. 45-80 (English version in: Polish Quarterly of International Affairs, no. 2, 2009)

- “Postura de Polonia frente a la ampliación de la Unión Europea”, La Musa, Vol. 7, 2006, pp. 121-136

- „Religia jako nieoficjalne kryterium członkostwa w Unii Europejskiej – przypadek Turcji” (“Religion as Unofficial EU Membership Criterion – the Case of Turkey”), in: A.Szymański (ed.), „Turcja i Europa – wyzwania i szanse” („Turkey and Europe – Challenges and Opportunities”), Warsaw 2011, pp. 89-105/“Religion as Unofficial EU Membership Criterion – the Case of Turkey”, in: A.Szymański (ed.), “Turkey and Europe – Challenges and Opportunities”, Warsaw 2012, pp. 85-101

- “Religion Oriented Conservative Parties and Democracy: The Case of the Turkish Justice and Development Party and the Polish Law and Justice Party”,  Hemispheres. Studies on Cultures and Societies, Vol. 30, No. 1, March 2015, pp. 55-70.

- “Role of Turkey in Change of the EU Enlargement Policy”, in: V. Ayhan, P. Osiewicz, M Kural (eds.), “Turkey-Poland. 600 Years of Friendship”, IMPR, Ankara 2014, pp. 21-46

- „Rozszerzanie Unii Europejskiej po 2007 roku – analiza uwarunkowań procesu” („EU Enlargement after 2007 – Analysis of the Process Determinants)”, Studia Europejskie, no. 2/2012, pp. 9-33

- "South Caucasus Political Issues – the EU and Turkish Perspective”, in: M. Kibaroğlu (ed.), “Turkey’s Neighborhood”, Ankara 2008, pp. 227-242

- „Teoretyczny i metodologiczny aspekt badań nad rozszerzeniem Unii Europejskiej” („Theoretical and Methodological Aspects of the EU Enlargement Research”), in: A. Antoszewski, A. Dumała, B. Krauz-Mozer, K. Radzik (ed.), „Teoretyczne i metodologiczne wyzwania badań politologicznych w Polsce” (“Theoretical and Methodological Challenges for the Political Studies in Poland”), Lublin 2009, pp. 307-317

- “The Austrian Governments of Schüssel, Gusenbauer and Faymann: Almost Full Continuation”, in: L. Jesień (ed.), “Change and Continuity. The European Policy of Selected European Union Member States, Warsaw 2012, pp. 13-54, http://www.pism.pl/publikacje/ksiazki/Change_and_Continuity

- “The Establishment of the Final Borders of Europe”, in: J. Jańczak (ed.), “De-Bordering, Re-Bordering and Symbols on the European Boundaries”, Berlin 2011, pp. 115-125

- “The Position of Polish Political Elites on Future EU Enlargement”, Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, 4/2007, pp. 540-560

- „Tурция и черноморское регионалъное сoтрудничество”,ΕВРОПА, no. 4, 2008, pp. 81-106

- „Turcja a tożsamość europejska – konfrontacja dwóch wizji Europy” (“Turkey and European Identity – Confrontation of Two Visions of Europe”), in: F. Gołembski (ed.) “European Identity” “Tożsamość europejska” (“European Identity”), Warszawa 2005, pp. 128-169

- „Turecki nacjonalizm – historia i współczesność” (“Turkish Nationalism – History and Present”), Krakowskie Studia Międzynarodowe, no. 1, 2010, pp. 35-50

- “Turkey and Poland and Their Process of European Integration”, in: S. Laçiner, H. Palabıyık, K. Kujawa, V. Garayev (eds.), “Turkish-Polish Relations: Past, Present and Future”, Çanakkale, Ankara 2015, pp. 167-184

- “Turkey and Poland: Two different countries in the process of European integration?”), in: N. Neuwahl, H. Kabaalioğlu (eds.), “European Union and Turkey: Reflections on the Prospects for Membership”, Istanbul 2006, pp. 249-258

-  “Turkey’s Potential Added Value to the EU: Resolution of Regional Conflicts”, in: Turkish Policy Quarterly, Fall 2009, pp.125-138

- “Turkey’s Role in Resolving the Middle East Conflicts”, in: International Issues and Slovak Foreign Policy Affairs, No. 2, 2011, pp. 71-85

- “Turkish Policy Towards War in Syria”, TEKA of the Commission of Political Science and International Affairs, vol. 12, no. 1, 2017, pp. 63-84.

-“Turkish Problems with Democracy in the Context of the EU Membership Question”, in: E. Kużelewska, D. Kloza (eds.), “The Challenges of Modern Democracy and European Integration”, Warszawa-Białystok 2012, pp. 157-176

- „Unia Europejska jako wspólnota terytorialna” (“European Union as Territorial Community”), in: K. A. Wojtaszczyk, W. Jakubowski (eds.), Europeistyka. Podręcznik akademicki” („European Studies. Students Reader”), vol.2, Warszawa 2012, pp. 293-382

- “What Does the EU Need to Do and What are Its Fears?” in: „Finding Common Grounds. Rediscovering The Common Narrative of Turkey and Europe”, Research Center of the SFPA, Bratislava 2009, pp. 25-40

- „Wpływ położenia geopolitycznego na politykę zagraniczną Turcji” (“Impact of the Geopolitical Position on the Foreign Policy of Turkey”), Stosunki międzynarodowe, 3-4/2011, pp. 179-195

- „Zarządzanie wielopoziomowe – analiza przypadku polityki rozszerzania UE” (“Multilevel Governance – Analysis of the Case of the EU Enlargement Policy”), Studia politologiczne, vol. 27, 2013, pp.186-206

- „Zastosowanie teorii zmiany instytucjonalnej w studiach europejskich na przykładzie polityki rozszerzania UE” („Application of the Theories of the Institutional Change in the European Studies Basing on the Example of the EU Enlargement Policy”), in: J. Ruszkowski, L. Wojnicz (eds.), „Teorie w studiach europejskich. W kierunku nowej agendy badawczej” („Theories in the European Studies. Towards a New Research Agenda”), Warszawa-Szczecin 2012, pp. 271-289

- „Zmiana prawa wyborczego na urząd prezydenta w Turcji – postęp w procesie demokratyzacji?” (“Change of the election presidential election law in Turkey – progress in the democratisation process?”), Białostockie Studia Prawnicze, Vol. 20/A, pp. 71-87

 

Research Projects

Date of implementation

Details

II 2017 -

Grant of the National Science Center for project no. 2016/21/B/HS5/00074 “Between Fair and Rigged. Elections as a Key Determinant of the ‘Borderline Political Regime’ - Turkey in Comparative Perspective” (Programme OPUS 11, head of the project)

I 2016 -              

Grant of the National Science Center for project no. 2015/17/D/HS5/00442 “Differentiated integration, Turkish accession prospects and EU geopolitics” (Programme SONATA 9, member of the research team, Institute of Political Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences)

XII 2011- XII 2013          

Grant of the National Science Center for project no. 2011/01/B/HS5/03268 “Governance in Transnational Space” (Programme OPUS 1, a member of the research team, the Faculty of Journalism and Political Science)

XI 2010-VI 2012           

Grant of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education/National Science Centre for project no. N N116 0791392012, “EU Enlargement Current Determinants and Future Prospects” (head of the project, the Faculty of Journalism and Political Science)

2007 – 2010     

Grant of the Committee for Scientific Research for project no. nr N N116 0666 33, “Role of the Polish Deputies to the European Parliament in Its Policy-making” (a member of the Faculty of Journalism and Political Science, University of Warsaw research team)