March 3: International Conference on Turkish Draft Constitution
Neelanjan Sircar
will bring together the academics and politicians who have drafted the
new constitution with scholars of democratic theory and comparative
constitutions in a way that both side exchange critical views and
share them with the public audience. The declared aim of the new
constitution project is to contribute to the process of liberalization
of Turkey's political and legal systems as part of its integration to
the European Union.
Monday, March 3rd: 9:00-6:30
International Affairs Building, Room 1501
This conference is sponsored by the Center for the Study of Democracy,
Toleration, and Religion (CDTR) and the Institute for Religion,
Culture and Public Life (IRCPL) at Columbia University, and Turkish
Cultural Center (TCC).
For more information, please contact Ahmet Kuru: ak2...@columbia.edu
Draft Program:
09:00-09.40 - Registration and Breakfast
09:40-10:00 - Opening Remarks -- Professor Alfred Stepan
10:00-12:00 - Session One
Prof. Ergun Ozbudun, Bilkent University
Mir Dengir Mehmet Firat, Vice Chairman of the AK Party
Cuneyt Yuksel, Turkish Parliamentarian
12:00-2:00 - Lunch Break
2:00-3:45 - Session Two
Prof. Alfred Stepan, Columbia University, "Reflections on Democratic
Constitutions"
Prof. Andrew Arato, New School of Social Research, "Political and
Legal Questions of Constitutional Amendment and of New Constitution
Making: 1982-2008."
3:45-4:15 - Coffee Break
4:15-5:30 - Session Three
Prof. Alfred Stepan, Columbia University
Prof. Andrew Arato, New School of Social Research
Prof. Ergun Ozbudun, Bilkent University
Mir Dengir Mehmet Firat, Vice Chairman of the AK Party
Cuneyt Yuksel, Turkish Parliamentarian
5:30 - Reception