On the eve of the 100th Anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye, Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards will acknowledge scholarly inputs from a wide range of disciplines and theoretical, empirical and comparative perspectives on the concept, history and institutions of the Republic and Republicanism. Declining levels of trust, problems related to accountability and rule of law, the rise of populism and the crisis of democracy across the globe enhance scholarly inquiry to Republican thought and more specifically towards Republican political perspectives on political institutions, liberty, equality, citizenship and forms of self-governance. Theoretical and empirical studies in political theory, comparative politics and international relations suggest multiple ways to rediscover past Republican traditions and envision new forms of citizen engagement, solidarity, civic participation and deliberation on micro and macro scales, within, but also beyond the nation-state. Critical perspectives on Republics and Republicanism reflect on past and existing inequalities along different axes of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, race, class, citizenship, migration and religion. Historical, sociological and anthropological perspectives rediscover and shed light onto different Republican traditions and tensions linked to multiple and interacting forms of social and political domination, and tyranny. Economic perspectives add to this debate on the complex relationship between Republicanism, Liberalism and Neoliberalism. Current global problems invite scholars to formulate new questions about what happens to the idea of the res publica when philosophical, moral and ethical perspectives beyond the human are considered. Particularly important in this aspect is the following question: What is there to derive from Republican thought and practice for developing and/or improving policy perspectives on politics, economics, culture, education and urbanization. This year's call invites original essays adding onto existing knowledge on Republic and Republicanism in theory and practice focusing on Turkey but not limited to it, and/or helping to contextualize political and social processes in Turkey from a comparative perspective. Studies from a wide range of disciplines such as political theory, political and moral philosophy, comparative politics, international relations, history, economics, gender studies, cultural studies, sociology, anthropology are welcome as well as multi and interdisciplinary research in social sciences. The deadline for submissions is February 24, 2023.
In 2005, Sabancı University decided to announce and administer an international award in order to encourage research on all aspects of Turkish culture, society and politics, and to uphold distinguished examples of fresh research with a view to engaging intellectual attention on Turkey’s role in the contemporary world. The “Sakıp Sabancı International Research Award” has been endowed in honor of the late Sakıp Sabancı, Honorary Chairman of Sabancı University’s Board of Trustees, and covers fields such as Turkish and Islamic Art and the History, Economy and Sociology of Turkey.
The Sakıp Sabancı International Research Award entails a Jury Prize for 25,000 USD. The Jury Prize will be awarded to an individual who has made distinguished contributions in this theme. An independent and international jury will select this Awardee. A series of awards will also be given to researchers under 45 years of age. This category includes 10.000 USD for each of three award-winning essays selected by the same jury panel from among submissions made for the competition.
Campus Address: Sabancı Üniversitesi Tuzla Kampüsü, Orta Mahalle, Üniversite Caddesi No:27 Tuzla, 34956 İstanbul / Turkey
Phone: (90 216) 483 90 00, Fax: (90 216) 483 90 45, E-mail: sabanciaward@sabanciuniv.edu