An event titled “The Russia-Ukraine War on the International Agenda” was organized in cooperation with the Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Strategic Research Application and Research Center (ÜSSAM). Prof. Dr. Yaşar Sarı attended the event as a guest. Sarı discussed the deep historical roots of the Russia-Ukraine War, political developments in Ukraine, and theories of international relations.
The event held in the South Campus Socrates Hall was attended by Associate Professor Dr. İbrahim Arslan, Head of the Political Science and International Relations Department, and Professor Dr. Havva Kök Arslan, Head of the Political Science and International Relations (English) Department, along with department academics and students.
Prof. Dr. Havva Kök Arslan: “The world is collapsing and being rebuilt”
Professor Dr. Havva Kök Arslan, Head of the Political Science and International Relations (English) Department, delivered the opening speech. Arslan stated: “You know how they say the world is collapsing and a new world is being built. Indeed, the world is now collapsing and being rebuilt. For this reason, the Russia-Ukraine War is also of a very significant nature.”
Prof. Dr. Yaşar Sarı: “The international system is now different from the bipolar system”
Emphasizing that the conflict is not just a war on the front lines, but a part of an ongoing struggle since the end of the Cold War, Prof. Dr. Yaşar Sarı, a faculty member at the İbn Haldun University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Political Science and International Relations, stated: “The Russia-Ukraine War or the war in Ukraine is the war of your student years. It is a war that has been going on since 2002. So, we are talking about such an old time, and the world is changing. Globally, the international system is now different from the bipolar system. Various experts and some academics described it as a unipolar system for a while. Others described it as a transition period. The early 90s was a period of uncertainty and agony for the world. Of course, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of the Russian Federation led to problematic years. We are now facing a similar situation.”
“This struggle has a past”
Prof. Dr. Yaşar Sarı said: “This should not be seen merely as a clash between soldiers fighting on the front lines. This war actually has a history of struggle, which includes the war of struggle itself. This history actually begins from the years when the Cold War ended. Why? There are certain issues that diplomats and leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union discussed while holding negotiations to end this struggle. One of these is the non-expansion of NATO.”
The event also touched upon the post-Cold War era and NATO's expansion, Russia's security perceptions and interests, developments in Ukraine, Putin's motivations, International Relations Theories, and Trump's Ukraine Policy.
After answering students' questions, a certificate of appreciation was presented to Prof. Dr. Yaşar Sarı.
The event concluded with a group photo session.