Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: "The global system is experiencing an ethical failure!"

Risks and opportunities were discussed in the seminar with the main theme of 'World in Crisis: Geopolitics, Risks and Opportunities' organized by Üsküdar University PPM (Political Psychology Application and Research Center) and Oxford University CRIC Center (The Center for the Resolution of Intractable Conflict).

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: "The world is experiencing a crisis of trust. A serious case of distrust in the US and EU values is rising. Currently, the global system is suffering from an ethical failure."

Prof. Tarhan: "As the university senate, we would like to publish a manifesto on global peace and human rights. In order for the world to become better livable, human rights must be protected as a sacred value."

Prof Scott Atran said: "It is undebatablethat racism is a bad thing today, but deep-down racism persists in people."

Prof. Robert Axelrod stated that "I think Trump's re-election would be a disaster for the world."

Richard Davis said: "It is a battle to manipulate people's thoughts, their behaviors..."

The Political Psychology Seminar with the main theme of 'The World in Crisis: Geopolitics, Risks and Opportunities', organized by Üsküdar University Political Psychology Application and Research Center (PPM) and Oxford University CRIC (The Center for the Resolution of Intractable Conflict) Center, was held at Üsküdar University Central Campus Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall.

The issue of peaceful settlement of disputes is more important than ever

Geopolitical risks are rising in the world. In addition to the fluctuations in the Middle East, the Russia-Ukraine war that broke out in the Black Sea moved focus to the Black Sea. On the other hand, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict still carries the risk of regional expansion. The issue of peaceful resolution of disputes is more important than ever. Oxford University CRIC Center and Üsküdar University Political Psychology Center discussed risks and opportunities in a joint meeting.

President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, Prof. Scott Atran from the University of Michigan, Prof. Robert Axelrod from the University of Michigan and Richard Davis from Oxford University made speeches in the program.

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: "What does the world need the most right now? You need to know this well."

President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the event was held at a time when the world needed it the most and which would be very useful, and said that the solution to the crises in the world would be discussed at the event. Tarhan pointed out that there are short-term, medium-term and long-term solutions to problems in the world and said that "What is the world most in need of right now? It is necessary to know this well.”

Reminding that Lord John Alderdice from CRIC Center was one of the architects of the agreement signed between the IRA and Britain and was later given the title of Lord, Tarhan reminded that Lord John Alderdice and Psychiatry Professor Vamık Volkan contributed to the solution of problems in many countries within the CRIC.

There are 3 types of crises in the world!

Pointing out that there are three types of crises in the world, Tarhan stated that "The first is the economic crisis and the other is the political crisis. However, there is a more important crisis, which I think has medium and long-term consequences, and the crisis is the human rights crisis. I think something needs to be said about the human rights crisis. In the 21st century, in the civilization that humanity has come to, the new sacrament of humanity, human rights... Human rights, which make a human being human and enable people to live together, was sort of registered in the form of a UN declaration after World War II."

A sacred value, that is, human rights...

Tarhan stated that "In order for the world to become a better livable place, human rights should be protected as a sacred value," and added that there are serious discussions about human rights.

Stating that there is an active regional war in the crisis in the Middle East, Tarhan emphasized that normally civilian deaths in wars are 5-10 percent, but civilian death is 60-70 percent here and cannot be stopped.

Explaining that the death of women, children and civilians can neither be justified by the law of war nor by international law, Tarhan said that "We do not know the extent of the threat in this regard. What I see as a political solution first is to ensure that the human rights system is not damaged in the world."

Trust must be established for peace...

Noting that it is necessary to think about the improvement of humanity, not focusing on one’s country or region, Tarhan stated that if every country thinks about getting better for themselves, it will be an ethnic, self-centered approach.

Emphasizing that there will be no peace in a family that only thinks about their own interests, and that there will be no peace in an environment where there are states that only think about their own interests, Tarhan stated that trust should be established to have peace, and that trust should be established in international relations as well as trust-building measures in family conflicts.

Our biggest enemy is prejudice, and our biggest need is dialogue...

Noting that the UN should be like the World Parliament, Tarhan said that everyone should seek their rights without fighting in the representation in the UN, and in that way, dialogue will be formed.

Prof. Tarhan stated that "Our biggest enemy is prejudice, and our greatest need is dialogue," and added that prejudices will be dissolved by communicating and talking.

There is a serious moral failure and double standards in the system in the world!

Tarhan said that "Regarding problems in the world, it makes the world more livable if every nation is represented in the UN and works like the World Parliament in a fair functioning," and added that there is a serious moral failure and double standards in the current system in the world. Stating that trust weakens as a result of failure, Tarhan continued his remarks as follows "When trust weakens, conflict increases. Where trust weakens, fear arises. Where there is fear, everyone begins to struggle for life. In order to reduce fear, trust-oriented studies are absolutely necessary. I think we need to find a solution to this in an environment where phosphorus flames are flying in the air. Especially in an environment where children are the victims of this. The world is now experiencing a crisis of confidence... It has become a crisis that threatens global peace, which will raise a more important human rights problem than economic and political crises. A serious distrust of the USA and EU values is rising. The global system is experiencing a moral failure.”

Tarhan, who also gave information about the studies carried out as a university, expressed the services of PPM and Postcolonial Studies Application and Research Center (PAMER).

A manifesto on global peace and human rights should be published

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated the following:

"What I would like to propose to the Senate of Üsküdar University is that if we can publish a manifesto here, especially on global peace and human rights. In that manifesto, we are here in order for the world to be more livable, for the world to get rid of the influence of gun lobbies. A great awareness is needed in the whole world. If there is that awareness, but if there is a demand from the society here, some things will improve. Otherwise, the power struggles and ego wars will never end. Therefore, social awareness is very important in this regard. The world should not be embroiled in a new war of civilization. There are those who want to create tension between eastern civilization and western civilization. There needs to be trust so that there is no clash of civilizations. It should not be just by words. For this reason, there must be safe relations, open, transparent, honest relations.

There should be no marginalization or discrimination. From today's meeting, we would like to contribute to our own with the manifesto if the relevant centers in the university deem it appropriate.

Every danger has a threat dimension, and there is also an opportunity dimension. What is needed to solve the threat dimension is being done, but what can be done with the opportunity dimension?"

Prof. Scott Atran: "A nuclear war can destroy the world in a matter of minutes..."

University of Michigan Prof. Scott Atran touched on the psychological and evolutionary sub-dimension and evaluated the question 'how did we get to this point?' in the program moderated by Asst. Prof. Selin Dingiloğlu. Prof. Atran reminded that it was not easy to reach to a point where slavery was not tolerated, and continued his remarks as follows:

"Slavery, torture and cannibalism are not tolerated; however, a nuclear war can destroy the world in a matter of minutes. Many countries have nuclear weapons, and the total of them could destroy the world several times over. How we manage this power is very important. A world government must be established to govern this power. However, this also requires a monopoly of power. Who will give up their power? For instance, it is an indisputable fact that racism is a bad thing today, but deep-down racism persists in people."

Referring to how the conflict between societies begins and ends, Prof. Atran reminded the faith of German soldiers in World War II against the US and Russian navies and stated that "People sacrifice for their beliefs. At the moment, no country thinks that it will be invaded. Conflicts are based on ideas. We cannot resolve conflicts over ideas. Through a behavioral experiment with the Israeli and Palestinian peoples and their rulers, we found that the people and rulers of both sides are in favor of peace in exchange for a sincere apology. If there is trust, both nations want peace; however, how will that trust be achieved?"

Richard Davis: "It is a war to manipulate people's thoughts, their behaviors..."

Co-founder of the research firm International Artis Richard Davis started his speech by expressing his admiration for Istanbul, said that we live in a world with artificial intelligence and that mobile phones enable us to perceive the world. Davis continued:

"Your mobile phones are being monitored by big companies, they see what you look at and what you read. Then they offer you what you are interested in and make money from it. This is becoming a serious battlefield. The battle to direct people's thoughts, behaviors... AI is part of the future, but it does not understand the value structure of humans."

Prof. Robert Axelrod: "Trump's re-election would be a disaster for the world"

University of Michigan Prof. Robert Axelrod stressed the issue of climate change and said that the world is getting warmer and becomes less livable. The situation is getting worse year by year.

Axelrod stated that the world could not find how to deal with global problems and drew attention to the relations between China and the USA, and Axelrod explained the conflict issues between the two countries.

Axelrod also expressed dissatisfaction with Russia's role in the world and said that conflicts have escalated since the invasion of Ukraine. Noting that the United States is going through a serious change and democracy is under threat, Axelrod stated that "I think Trump's re-election would be a disaster for the world."

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)