On October 21, 2024, DPI organised an interactive seminar titled The Role of Civil Society in Countering Polarisation, hosted by the Embassy of Finland in Ankara, Türkiye. Joined by Ambassador Pirkko Hamalainen, participants comprised a small group of leading civil society actors representing the spectrum of different political and societal affiliations in Türkiye as well as political party representatives.
The seminar sought to discuss and debate the role of civil society in depolarisation efforts in Türkiye, specifically from a conflict resolution perspective, seeking to constructively exchange viewpoints and open discourse. Discussions aimed to analyse the impacts of polarisation on society from different perspectives and determine strategies to solve them, identify the role of civil society organisations in facilitating dialogue between polarised groups and actors, and assess how civil society can contribute to building societal peace and developing fair, equal, and inclusive practices.
From a peacebuilding standpoint, international experiences have shown that peace agreements are more successful and enduring when informal processes engaging civil society and grassroots movements support formal negotiations. Ensuring the involvement and representation of civil society within peace processes fosters momentum, builds mutual trust, and reduces polarisation. The absence of civil society from peace processes can result in failure to publicise the idea of peace or transcend political divides. As a result, including civil society in the peace process serves to direct action in a manner that unites people, ensures accountability, and holistically addresses meso-level concerns beyond political contexts.
We would like to express our gratitude to the Embassy of Finland in Ankara and Ambassador Hamalainen for hosting the event and for their continued support.
This series forms part of a wider range of activities planned under the Promoting Peace in Turkey and the Region project, supported by the governments of Ireland, Norway and Switzerland.