The International Strategic Research Organization (USAK, acronym from its Turkish name ''Uluslararası Stratejik Araştırma Kurumu'') is an independent

think-tank A think tank, or public policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governme ...

established in 2004. It pursues interdisciplinary studies on national and international political,

economic An economy is an area of the Production (economics), production, Distribution (economics), distribution and trade, as well as Consumption (economics), consumption of Goods (economics), goods and Service (economics), services. In general, it is ...

and

security Security is protection from, or resilience against, potential harm (or other unwanted coercion). Beneficiaries (technically referents) of security may be persons and social groups, objects and institutions, ecosystems, or any other entity or ...

issues. Its core research areas are:

international security ''International Security'' is a peer-reviewed academic journal in the field of international and national security. It was founded in 1976 and is edited by the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University and publis ...

terrorism Terrorism, in its broadest sense, is the use of violence against non-combatants to achieve political or ideological aims. The term is used in this regard primarily to refer to intentional violence during peacetime or in the context of war aga ...

international relations International relations (IR, and also referred to as international studies, international politics, or international affairs) is an academic discipline. In a broader sense, the study of IR, in addition to multilateral relations, concerns al ...

Middle East The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

Central Asia Central Asia is a region of Asia consisting of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The countries as a group are also colloquially referred to as the "-stans" as all have names ending with the Persian language, Pers ...

Caucasus The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a region spanning Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is situated between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, comprising parts of Southern Russia, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. The Caucasus Mountains, i ...

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...

Balkans The Balkans ( , ), corresponding partially with the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throug ...

, Asia-Pacific,

Americas The Americas, sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North America and South America.''Webster's New World College Dictionary'', 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. When viewed as a sing ...

international law International law, also known as public international law and the law of nations, is the set of Rule of law, rules, norms, Customary law, legal customs and standards that State (polity), states and other actors feel an obligation to, and generall ...

and

energy Energy () is the physical quantity, quantitative physical property, property that is transferred to a physical body, body or to a physical system, recognizable in the performance of Work (thermodynamics), work and in the form of heat and l ...

. Its central office is in Ankara, Mebusevleri. USAK currently has 30 regular experts/researchers and 8 technical employees. Moreover, the organization works with more than one hundred academicians, experts and researchers throughout Turkey and worldwide. Volunteers and part-time employees also contribute to the work of USAK. It also offers internship and training programs. Until now, more than a thousand people from Turkey and abroad have participated in these programs.

Structure

USAK has four main components; the Academic Council, Administrative Council, Supervisory Council and the group of Honorary Members. Prof. Dr Yusuf Ziya Özcan headed the Academic Council between 2004 and 2008. Prof. Dr. Sedat Laçiner, who is the founding president of USAK, led the organization between 2004 and 2010 and Tayyibe Gülek, the former minister of state and deputy chairman of Democratic Left Party, was the honorary president between 2004 and 2008. In June 2010, Özdem Sanberk, former undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and retired ambassador, became president of USAK and Prof. Dr İhsan Bal became head of the Academic Council. Prof. Dr. Kamer Kasım, Prof. Dr. Selçuk Çolakoğlu and Mehmet Tiraş are the current vice-presidents of the organization.

Research centers

*USAK Center for European Union Studies *USAK Center for Security Studies *USAK Center for Middle East and African Studies *USAK Center for American Studies *USAK Center for Eurasian Studies *USAK Center for Asia-Pacific Studies *USAK Center for Energy Security Studies *USAK Center for Social Sciences *USAK Center for International Law

Activities

*Book Publications *Internet Publications *Report and Policy Briefs *Projects *Consulting Services *Media Services *Seminars, Conferences and Workshops *Internship and Training Programs

Publications

Reports and policy briefs

USAK prepares its reports and policy briefs with the aim of analyzing world affairs in the academic discipline. The aim of these publications, which are supported by field research, is primarily to convey accurate information to decision-makers and other relevant readers. USAK has published 43 reports and 28 policy briefs both in English and Turkish.

Books

USAK's books primarily deal with international politics, internal & external security and sociology, and are written by its core staff with the contribution of other writers. The number of books published by USAK has reached 63.

''Analist'' Magazine

''Analist'' is a monthly magazine that was launched in March 2011. ''Analist'' provides in-depth analysis of regional & global issues and Turkey's approach thereto within the framework of a different theme each month. Its mission is to fill the gap between foreign policy, politics and strategy formation with its expertise, concrete figures and analytical perspective. In that sense, it is one of the most renowned political magazines in Turkey. ''Analist'' has a wide cadre of authors that brings together academics, professionals, bureaucrats and politicians on the same platform. It reaches a widespread audience with five thousand copies published each month.

''The Journal of Central Asian and Caucasian Studies''

''The Journal of Central Asian and Caucasian Studies'' (''OAKA'') is a peer-reviewed scientific Journal. It is published twice a year (in the winter and summer). In ''OAKA'', academic articles and book reviews are published both in English and Turkish. The journal focuses on legal, political, sociological, cultural, social, religious, anthropological and economic studies regarding Central Asia, the Caucasus and neighboring states' (Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, China, Mongolia, Russia) and relevant regions' (Black Sea, South Asia, Middle East, Far East) relations with Central Asia and the Caucasus.

The ''Review of International Law and Politics''

The '' Review of International Law and Politics'' (''UHP'') is a peer-reviewed journal that is published four times a year (in the winter, spring, summer and autumn). The journal publishes scholarly articles and book reviews in English and Turkish. Although the journal is an independent publication in terms of scientific research, it mainly focuses on international relations, international law and political history. Moreover, the journal accepts papers from scholars all over the world on area studies (Balkans, Caucasus, Europe, Central Asia, etc.), international security, international relations, sociology and anthropology.

''USAK Yearbook''

The '' USAK Yearbook of Politics and International Relations'' is an annual, peer-reviewed, English language scholarly journal. The publication consists of USAK experts and researchers' most exclusive articles and reviews written during that year. Original works written by other academicians and researchers in their respective fields are also included in the yearbook. Therefore, it handles a broad range of issues that were visible in the year prior to its publication, ranging from politics to economy and international law to security.

''Journal of Turkish Weekly''

''Journal of Turkish Weekly'' (''JTW'') is a respected Turkish news source that reports on international politics in the English language. It was established in 2004. Apart from the reports and comments of its staff, JTW also republishes articles from respected international news sources including Anadolu Agency, Hurriyet Daily News, RFERL, VOA News, Voice of Russia, IWPR, Jerusalem Post, Mehr News, Balkan Insight, Independent Balkan News Agency, SETimes, Xinhua, voxEU.org, Project-Syndicate, REGNUM, Eurasian Home, Uzreport, Sofia News Agency and others.

International partners

USAK often undertakes activities with its international partners, including common field research, conferences and seminars and joint publications. *Brookings Institution *Council on Foreign Relations ( CFR) *The Washington Institute for Near Eastern Policies ( WINEP) *Center for Strategic and International Studies ( CSIS) *Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies ( NESA) *Atlantic Council *Think-tanks from the Middle East, Central Asia and Southeast Asia

USAK House

USAK's main building, "USAK House", is Turkey's first ever think-tank building. The 7-story building was opened by President Abdullah Gül on November 4, 2009. The architect of the building is Soner Gükdemir.

References

{{Authority control Think tanks established in 2004 Think tanks based in Turkey 2004 establishments in Turkey