Over the last week, I embarked on a journey with my classmates to Istanbul, the city known as the meeting point between Europe and Asia, not only in a literal geographic sense, but also through its rich culture, vibrant politics, and storied history. Istanbul is a unique city because it seamlessly blends the legacies of past empires with the dynamics of modern-day Türkiye. As we strolled through the steep, cobbled paths of the city, it became clear why Istanbul has been a pivotal point in history for global power struggles, trade, and diplomacy for centuries.
During our trip, we were given the opportunity to attend the ECIT 2025 at the Istanbul Kultur University. The conference brought together students from the UK, Thailand, and Türkiye to participate in a cross-collaborative workshop, where fellow students exchanged ideas on global issues. The event focused on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This focus enabled the event to become a space where we explored issues such as inequality, climate change, urban development, and education, and how these issues vary across changing political and cultural landscapes.
What I found most rewarding about the event was the opportunity to make new friends and connections from diverse cultural backgrounds, a testament to the Democratic Education Network. I was able to engage in conversations with people from diverse parts of the world about history, politics, and social life. These conversations made me reflect not only on my position as a student of IR, but also on how, if we want to resolve global issues, there must be dialogue and cooperation beyond borders.
Beyond the conference, being in Istanbul itself was a refresh for me, as I had visited before. The city was just as I remembered it, bustling, loud, and exciting. Farhang, with his expertise in visiting Istanbul every year, kindly showed us around parts of both the Asian and European sides. We came across a Jewish Synagogue, which represents the small Jewish community in Istanbul. It was interesting to see the graffiti inside the perimeter of the synagogue. It was more of a showcase of the street art scene in the Kadikoy area of Istanbul, rather than vandalism. We also walked down the streets of Sultanahmet and were taken on a tour of the Old City. Just looking at the ancient ruins revealed to us the significance of Istanbul in history and the present.
The city’s skyline amazed us all, with its views of the minarets of mosques and the various structures that remained from the Ottoman Empire.
This historical layering directly links to the Politics and Development in the Middle East module. The Ottomans’ influence across the entire region remains significant today, shaping the political structures of not only Türkiye but also many nations, and serving as the seed of many people’s national identities.
This trip has helped me expand my academic and personal understanding of the Middle East and Türkiye by providing an in-person perspective on how historical legacies and cultural diversity shape development in the region. Experiencing the urban landscape of the city and engaging in discussions on global challenges has enabled me to deepen my understanding of the Middle East’s political dynamics in a way that purely theoretical study cannot.
Salman Aziz