Turkey and the Transformation of the Global Political and Economic Landscape

On May 1, the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings hosted the 10th annual Sakıp Sabancı lecture featuring former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. In her remarks, Secretary Albright offered perspectives on Turkey’s political and economic development during a period of rapid global transformation. She also explored how Turkey’s evolution is shaping its partnership with the United States, its engagement with Europe and its contributions to solving regional and global challenges.

Madeleine Albright is chair of Albright Stonebridge Group, a global strategy firm. In 1997, she was named the first female secretary of state and became, at that time, the highest ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government. Her distinguished career of public service includes positions in the National Security Council, as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and on Capitol Hill. In 2012, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, from President Obama. She is the author of five New York Times bestsellers including Madam Secretary, and most recently, Prague Winter.

Brookings President Strobe Talbott and Güler Sabancı, chair of the board of trustees of Sabancı University, provided introductory remarks. Following Secretary Albright’s remarks, Kemal Kirişci, TÜSİAD senior fellow at Brookings, moderated a discussion with the audience in Washington. Sabancı University Professor Emre Hatipoğlu also moderated the discussion in Istanbul with students and a wider overseas audience who joined the event via videoconference.

The Sakıp Sabancı Lecture Series annually features leading international statesman and explores Turkey’s increasingly important role in the world. The series honors the memory of Sakip Sabanci, one of Turkey’s foremost business leaders, a visionary supporter of democratic and economic reforms and a leading advocate of Turkey’s efforts to join the European Union.

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