Political Science and International Relations (English)
Rümeysa Yurduseven, one of our students who participated in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, conveyed her experiences and reflections to us.
The Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) is a global platform organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2021, bringing together heads of states, diplomats, academics, representatives of international organizations, and young people from many countries. This year, the fourth edition of ADF hosted more than 6,000 guests from 155 countries, including 21 heads of states and government and 64 ministers.
As a Political Science and International Relations student, participating in ADF was one of the greatest opportunities I could have in my academic life. Throughout the three-day event, I attended many panels and ADF Talks sessions. Having the chance to listen to statespersons, academics, and experts from different geographies under one roof not only strengthened my interest in diplomacy but also provided me with a unique perspective.
The Forum generally consisted of three main parts: panels, ADF Talks, and various interactive events. In the panels, significant topics related to both current international developments and historical events were discussed. In this context, the speech of Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani was particularly striking. Her remarks about the tragedies Kosovo experienced in the past and the point it has reached today were meaningful in terms of refreshing the memory of the international community.
On the other hand, listening in person to the speeches of leaders from diverse regions such as Asia-Pacific, the Black Sea, South Caucasus, and Africa was quite exciting. This year, ADF featured many panels particularly focused on multipolarity, and I had the chance to attend one of them. The panel moderated by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu revealed that today’s world must go beyond a unipolar or bipolar structure. In various panels, the importance of national security and the significance of humanitarian intervention in complex crises were also emphasized. These discussions were highly enlightening for me in terms of understanding the connection between the
theories we learn in our department and practice.
Among the ADF Talks sessions, one of the most interesting speeches for me was by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. His sincere manner and the importance he attached to his country’s relations with Türkiye reflected the friendly ties between the two nations. Likewise, the Horn of Africa Panel and the speech of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, which are directly related to my Capstone Project topic, were especially valuable to me. These sessions brought new perspectives to my academic work. During the Forum, I was not just a listener; I also participated in interactive events. The brief conversation we had with our Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan on the evening of April 12 was quite motivating in this intense diplomatic atmosphere.
The diplomacy simulation held on April 13 was one of the most exciting parts of ADF. Students were selected for this simulation by their guides. Thanks to the courses I previously took from Assoc. Prof. Pınar Sayan, I was already familiar with the structure of this simulation, which helped me engage more easily. Taking part as a representative of a fictional country called the Kingdom of Orvena, this experience was an unforgettable one in terms of practicing diplomatic negotiations.
Among the conversations we had with student friends from different universities, the moments where we helped each other recognize our shortcomings became one of the most valuable takeaways for me over those three days. With the observational skills I’ve gained from doing a double major in psychology, being able to understand people’s behaviors, even to a small extent, holds great importance in such platforms. Through this occasion, I also had the chance to meet many diplomats and received promises to conduct in-depth interviews for my thesis. I believe this is a rare opportunity for any student.
Being under the same roof for three days with prominent figures of global politics such as Sergey Lavrov, Thandi Moraka, Berris Ekinci, Ahmet Şara, and Jeffrey Sachs, ADF was not just a forum for me; it was a true reflection of the world of diplomacy I have always dreamed of. This organization has become an inspiring experience etched in my memory—one that I would want to attend every year and recount with the same excitement even after many years. I extend my sincere thanks to all the officials and contributors who made such an event possible.
This content was updated on 12/06/2025.