Risks and opportunities were discussed at the seminar titled ‘World in Crisis: Geopolitics, Risks and Opportunities,’ organized by Üsküdar Üniversitesi PPM (Political Psychology Application and Research Center) and Oxford University CRIC Center.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “The world is experiencing a crisis of trust. A serious distrust is rising against US and EU values. Currently, the global system is experiencing moral failure.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan: “As the university senate, we want to publish a manifesto on global peace and human rights. For the world to become a better place to live, human rights must be upheld as a sacred value.”
Prof. Scott Atran: “Today, it is an undeniable fact that racism is a bad thing, but racism continues subtly within people.”
Prof. Robert Axelrod: “I think Trump’s re-election would be a disaster for the world.”
Richard Davis: “A war to steer people's thoughts and behaviors…”
The Political Psychology Seminar themed ‘World in Crisis: Geopolitics, Risks and Opportunities,’ organized by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Political Psychology Application and Research Center (PPM) and Oxford University CRIC (The Conference on the Resolution of Intractable Conflict) Center, was held at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Central Campus Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall.
The Issue of Resolving Conflicts by Peaceful Methods 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 shifted the focus to the Black Sea. The Israel-Palestine conflict still carries the risk of regional spread. The issue of resolving conflicts by peaceful methods is more important than ever. Oxford University CRIC Center and Üsküdar Üniversitesi Political Psychology Center discussed risks and opportunities in a joint meeting.
In the program, which attracted great interest, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Prof. Scott Atran from the University of Michigan, Prof. Robert Axelrod from the University of Michigan, and Richard Davis, who conducts studies at Oxford University, each delivered a speech.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “What is the world’s greatest need right now? We must know this well”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the event was held at a time when the world needed it most and would be very useful, adding that solutions to global crises would be discussed at the event.
Tarhan said, “What is the world’s greatest need right now? We must know this well,” and pointed out that there are short-term, medium-term, and long-term solutions to global problems.
Tarhan reminded that Lord John Alderdice from the CRIC Center was one of the architects of the agreement signed between the IRA and Britain and was later granted the title of Lord, adding that Lord John Alderdice and Professor of Psychiatry Vamık Volkan contributed to resolving problems in many countries within CRIC.
There are 3 types of crises in the world!
Drawing attention to the fact that there are 3 types of crises in the world, Tarhan said, “First, there is the economic crisis, then the political crisis. But there is a more important crisis that I believe has medium and long-term consequences, which is the human rights crisis… I think something needs to be said about the human rights crisis. In the 21st Century, in the civilization humanity has reached, humanity’s new sacred values are human rights… Human rights, which make humanity human and enable people to live together, were registered in a way as a UN declaration after World War II.”
A Sacred Value; Human Rights…
“For the world to become a better place to live, human rights must be upheld as a sacred value,” said Tarhan, also stating that serious discussions are taking place regarding human rights.
Tarhan stated that there is an active regional war in the Middle East, emphasizing that while civilian deaths in wars are normally 5-10 percent, here they are 60-70 percent and cannot be stopped.
Explaining that the deaths of women, children, and civilians cannot be explained by either the laws of war or international law, Tarhan said, “We also do not know the extent of the threat in this regard. What I see as a priority over political solutions is to ensure that the human rights system in the world is not harmed.”
Trust Must Be Built for Peace…
Tarhan noted that one should think not of “my country, my region” but of humanity progressing, stating that if every country only thought of its own betterment, it would lead to an ethnic, self-centered approach.
Tarhan emphasized that just as there would be no peace in a family that only considers its own interests, there would be no peace in an environment with states that only consider their own interests. He stated that trust must be established for peace, and that trust-building measures should be considered in international relations, just as they are in family conflicts.
Our Greatest Enemy is Prejudice, Our Greatest Need is Dialogue…
Tarhan also noted that the UN should be like a World Parliament, and that everyone in the UN should seek their rights without conflict through representation, thus creating dialogue.
“Our greatest enemy is prejudice, and our greatest need is dialogue,” said Prof. Dr. Tarhan, also stating that prejudices would be dispelled through communication and discussion.
There is a Serious Moral Failure, Double Standards in the World System!
Sharing his views, Tarhan stated, “For global problems, the UN working like a World Parliament, where every nation is represented and operates fairly, would make the world more livable.” He noted that the current global system suffers from serious moral failure and double standards. Tarhan also expressed that trust weakens as a result of failure: “When trust weakens, conflict increases. Where trust is weak, fear emerges. Where there is fear, everyone starts a struggle for survival. To reduce fear, trust-oriented efforts are absolutely necessary. I believe we need to find solutions to this in an environment where phosphorus flames are flying in the air, especially when children are the victims. The world is now experiencing a crisis of trust… It has become a crisis threatening global peace, bringing forth a human rights issue more important than economic and political crises. A serious distrust is rising against US and EU values. The global system is experiencing moral failure.”
Tarhan also provided information about the work carried out by the university, highlighting the services of PPM and the Postcolonial Studies Application and Research Center (PAMER).
A Manifesto on Global Peace and Human Rights Should Be Published
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated the following:
“What I want to propose to the Üsküdar Üniversitesi Senate is; if we can publish a manifesto here, especially on global peace and human rights. Within that manifesto, we state that for the world to be more livable, for the world to escape the influence of arms lobbies, a serious global awareness is needed. Only if that awareness exists, and if there is a demand from society, can some things improve. Otherwise, power struggles and ego wars will never end. Therefore, social awareness is very important in this respect. The world should not enter a new civilization war. There are those who want to create tension between Eastern and Western civilizations. Trust must be established so that there is no clash of civilizations. It should not remain just talk. For this, safe, open, transparent, and honest relationships are needed.
Othering and discrimination should not occur. If the relevant centers at the university approve, we want to contribute with a manifesto of our own from today’s meeting.
Every danger has a threat dimension, and an opportunity dimension. What is necessary to solve the threat dimension is being done, but what can be done with the opportunity dimension?”
Prof. Scott Atran: “A Nuclear War Could Destroy the World in Minutes…”
In the program moderated by Dr. Lecturer Selin Dingiloğlu, Prof. Scott Atran from the University of Michigan evaluated the question ‘how did we get to this point?’ by touching upon the psychological and evolutionary sub-dimension. Prof. Atran reminded that we did not easily reach a point where slavery is not tolerated, and continued as follows:
“Although situations like slavery, torture, and cannibalism are not condoned, a nuclear war could destroy the world in minutes. Many countries possess nuclear weapons, and their total sum could destroy the world several times over. How we manage this power is crucial. For the management of this power, a world government needs to be established. However, this also requires a monopoly of power, but who will give up their power? For instance, today, it is an undeniable fact that racism is a bad thing, but racism continues subtly within people.”
Addressing how conflict begins and ends among societies, Prof. Atran recalled the German soldiers’ belief against the US and Russian navies in World War II, stating, “People make sacrifices for their beliefs. Currently, no country believes it will be invaded; conflicts are based on ideas. We cannot resolve conflicts at the level of ideas. According to a behavioral experiment we conducted with the Israeli and Palestinian peoples and their leaders, we observed that both sides’ people and leaders were receptive to making peace in exchange for a sincere apology. If there is trust, both nations want peace, but how will that trust be established?”
Richard Davis: “A War to Steer People's Thoughts and Behaviors…”
Richard Davis, co-founder of the research firm Artis International, began his speech by expressing his admiration for Istanbul, stating that we live in a world with artificial intelligence and that mobile phones enable us to perceive the world. Davis continued as follows:
“Your mobile phones are tracked by large companies; they see what you look at and what you read. Then they present you with things you are interested in and make money from it. This has started to become a serious battlefield. A war to steer people’s thoughts and behaviors… Artificial intelligence is a part of the future, but it does not understand the human value structure.”
Prof. Robert Axelrod: “Trump’s Re-election Would Be a Disaster for the World”
Prof. Robert Axelrod from the University of Michigan pointed to climate change, stating that the world is getting warmer, becoming less livable, and the situation is worsening year by year.
Axelrod stated that he could not find how the world would cope with global problems, drawing attention to China-US relations and explaining the areas of conflict between the two countries.
Axelrod also stated that Russia is not satisfied with its role in the world, and that conflicts have escalated since the invasion of Ukraine.
Noting that the US is undergoing a serious change and democracy is under threat, Axelrod said, “I think Trump’s re-election would be a disaster for the world.”
