Ahmet Davutoglu Delivers the 2012 King Abdullah II Leadership Lecture
Dr. Ahmet Davutoglu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Turkey, delivered the Harris School's 2012 King Abdullah II Lecture at the University of Chicago. Dr. Davutoglu spoke about Turkey's role in world events, bringing an insider's perspective to the ongoing "Arab Spring" and other contemporary Middle Eastern issues.
Dr. Davutoglu began his career as one of Turkey's most distinguished academics and authors—on the subject of public and foreign policy—before being appointed Turkey's Foreign Minister in 2009. He commenced his talk by discussing his dual roles as theoretician and practitioner.
"I had planned my life to be on the 'knowledge-side,'" said Dr. Davutoglu. "But, of course, we cannot separate academic knowledge from the real world. Being an academic is permanent, however. Being a foreign minister is always temporary."
Dr. Davutoglu went on to explore the reasons behind Turkey's recent rise in geopolitical influence and its economic success, citing in particular its foreign policy efforts and openness with other countries in the region.
"We did not discover oil or natural gas in the last ten years, but our per capita income has increased four times," said Dr. Davutoglu. "What we discovered was the quality of our manpower and womanpower. [...] Our democracy has been strengthened because our foreign policy is everywhere. These are supporting to each other."
Dr. Davutoglu also considered the positive impact of the strong ties between his country and the United States—ties he said had been strengthened in recent years.
"This is a promising era in international relations because the U.S. has realized that Turkey can be a problem solver," said Dr. Davutoglu. "The U.S. is a global power but Turkey is a regional power with multidimensional characteristics."
Dr. Davutoglu also answered several questions from the audience. When asked about the recent governmental and cultural upheavals in the Middle East—often referred to as the "Arab Spring"—Dr. Davutoglu was candid and to the point.
"Regarding the Arab Spring, Turkey will always do two things," said Dr. Davutoglu. "We will support the rights of people, and we will use diplomacy."
Before Dr. Davutoglu's remarks, Turkish officials joined Harris School Dean Colm O'Muircheartaigh to sign a "Memorandum of Understanding" between Turkey and the University of Chicago. In this document, both entities pledged to promote research and education between one another.
"We're delighted to be able to collaborate with the Government of Turkey," said Colm O'Muircheartaigh. "This memorandum lays the foundation of a strong arrangement with Turkey going forward."
The King Abdullah II Annual Leadership Lecture brings to the University of Chicago distinguished world leaders, former leaders, and leading experts to discuss international affairs. It was established in 2005 by King Abdullah II of Jordan, who delivered the inaugural lecture himself
