The Association for Liberal Thinking ( tr, Liberal Düşünce Topluluğu) is a Turkish

classical liberal Classical liberalism is a political tradition and a branch of liberalism that advocates free market and laissez-faire economics; civil liberties under the rule of law with especial emphasis on individual autonomy, limited government, econ ...

, non-profit, non-governmental organization. ALT does not involve in daily politics and have no direct links with any political party or movement.

History

The group was informally founded on 26 December 1992 by liberal intellectuals and gained official status as an association under Turkish law on 1 April 1994. Three years after its informal formation the Association started to publish what it recognizes as its main publication, the journal titled ''Liberal Düşünce'' (Liberal Thought).

Organisation

The association is based in

Ankara Ankara ( , ; ), historically known as Ancyra and Angora, is the capital of Turkey. Located in the central part of Anatolia, the city has a population of 5.1 million in its urban center and over 5.7 million in Ankara Province, mak ...

, the capital city of Turkey. It has five working groups called "research centers": ''Din ve Hurriyet Araştırmaları Merkezi'' (Religion and Freedom Research Center), ''İnsan Hakları Merkezi'' (Human Rights Center), ''Ekonomik Özgürlük Merkezi'' (Economic Freedom Center), ''Çevre Politikaları Araştırma Merkezi'' (Environmental Policies Research Center) and ''Eğitim Politikaları Araştırma Merkezi'' (Education Policies Research Center).

Activities

The association publishes reports, books and journal (''Liberal Düşünce'', published quarterly), hosts seminars and runs educational programs. It supports research and carries out studies that serve understanding the Turkish society. It also organizes essay contest aimed primarily at university students for encouraging the study and dissemination of liberal thought. For example, the 2008 essay contest was on the meaning of reading

Frederic Bastiat Frederic may refer to: Places United States * Frederic, Wisconsin, a village in Polk County * Frederic Township, Michigan, a township in Crawford County ** Frederic, Michigan, an unincorporated community Other uses * Frederic (band), a Japanese r ...

's ''Law''. Quarterly journal ''Liberal Düşünce'' (Liberal Thinking) is prestigious source for Turkish Liberal ideology and civil society. President of the Association

Atilla Yayla Atilla Yayla (, born ), is a Turkish political thinker and a proponent of liberal democracy. He is one of the founders of Association for Liberal Thinking in Turkey. He was Professor of Politics, Political Economy and Political Philosophy at ...

is also columnist in the liberal-conservative newspaper Yeni Şafak. Projects carried out by the organisation have included 'Inter-religious Affairs: Search for A Peaceful Coexistence in a Secular and Democratic System', a 2004 project aimed at encouraging diversity which was sponsored by the

European Commission The European Commission (EC) is the executive of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission (informally known as "Commissioners") headed by a President. It includes an administrative body ...

. The organisation is associated with '' Liberte Yayınları'' (Liberte Publications) that publishes its journals and books by its members. The Association was a co-sponsor of the 2008 denialist International Conference on Climate Change, with the

Heartland Institute The Heartland Institute is an American conservative and libertarian public policy think tank known for its rejection of both the scientific consensus on climate change and the negative health impacts of smoking. Founded in 1984, it worked wit ...

as the main sponsor.

References

External links

Official site in English
Think tanks based in Turkey Classical liberalism Conservatism in Turkey Libertarian think tanks Climate change denial {{econ-org-stub