Imagining a Common Horizon for Humanity and the Planet

Global problems, such as climate change and past and potential pandemics place a heavy burden on humanity and our planet. We need the cooperation of scientists and philosophers from all disciplines in order to seek and find paths out of these crises. Turkey is at an advantageous if not a central position in forging such a cooperation. We are at the eastern end of the West, western end of the East, and located between the North and the South as well. This book is the outcome of a project titled Imagining a Common Horizon for Humanity and the Planet undertaken by Cappadocia University. In it, you will find chapters by distinguished scholars and philosophers from a multitude of countries, cultural backgrounds and disciplines. We hope the knowledge and the wisdom accmnulated via this project and presented between the covers of this book will provide one more step in reaching an actionable cornmon horizon and contribute to a safer and better world for our children.

Professor İskender Öksüz
Cappadocia University

Prof. Karasar worked previously in the International Relations Departments of Atılım University (2013–2017) and Bilkent University (2003–2013), where he taught courses mostly on Central Asia and Eurasia-related topics. He served as the first General Secretary of the Bilkent Centre for Russian Studies (2005–2013), and chaired the Central Asian Studies department of the Ankara-based think-tank Centre for Eurasian Studies. (2003–2005). Since 1996 he has regularly been deployed as an observer by the OSCE election monitoring missions in the former Soviet republics. He has carried out studies of various archives related to Eurasian and Central Asian history and politics in Turkey, the Russian Federation, Kazakstan, Uzbekistan, Hungary, Japan and the United States. Focusing primarily on Central Asian history and politics, and ethnic and religious issues, as well as Turco-Russian relations since the early 1990s, Prof. Karasar has published articles in numerous scholarly journals, including Central Asian Survey, Europe Asia Studies and Cornucopia. He has gained extensive field research experience through his studies in the former Soviet Central Asia, Caucasus and Volga-Ural region of the Russian Federation. Aside from his native Turkish, Prof. Karasar speaks also English and Russian.

Dr. Şafak OĞUZ is an Assoc. Professor working in the Capadoccia University Department of Political Science and International Relations. He retired from the Turkish Armed Forces in 2021 after 23 years of service, during which he worked in the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) and the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe of NATO in Belgium. He has published widely on Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), Terrorism, International Security, International Organizations and Peace and Conflict Studies. Aside from his native Turkish, Dr. OĞUZ speaks also English and German.

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