DPI hosted its first event of 2024 on 24 January, titled Navigating the Political Landscape: An Analysis of the Upcoming Elections and their Impact on Conflict Resolution in Türkiye. This online event had journalist, writer, and TV contributor Kemal Can as the keynote speaker. Can throughout his presentation discussed a variety of factors that will influence the upcoming local elections, including the prevalence of elections in Türkiye over the past decade, and the effect that this has had on shrinking the space for politics in the country. He then spoke about the structural effects of alliances on politics. Kemal Can also spoke extensively about the rising importance of nationalism in Türkiye, and the important role it played in the 2023 elections, and the likely important role it will play in the local elections, along with the polarising effect it has had in the country. Finally, he discussed the opportunities for conflict resolution that the election may have including the upcoming period after the elections without any looming elections. Following Kemal Can’s presentation there was a discussion period, during which, participants discussed issues from Can’s presentation including the reduced space for politics in the country, the rise of nationalism and increased polarisation in Türkiye, and the opportunities for conflict resolution and peacebuilding that may come out of the upcoming local elections.
