Center for Social Thought and Research
Center for Social Thought and Research
The multi-layered and rapid socio-economic transformation that TODAY Turkey is undergoing brings with it the task of producing and sharing reliable, inclusive and useful information. The Center for Social Thought and Research (TODAM) was established to realize the goal of a just, equitable and prosperous society. Our aim is to produce information and thoughts on social issues of central importance for Turkey with this goal.
TODAY brings together Decently competent and reliable human capital of universities with autonomous and dynamic energy of civil society. Migration, working life and employment, welfare and development, social inequalities, health, law, urbanization, environment, social policies and the Islamic world are the main research areas of TODAM.
Producing accurate information about social issues, events, phenomena, processes and issues, preparing and facilitating the production of accurate information, ensuring that the information is as useful and effective as it is accurate, and the quality and operability of the information produced that can be turned into solutions are the common features of TODAM's activities.
We study social issues by taking advantage of different perspectives of social sciences. TODAM's approach to social issues includes the dimension of constructive proposal as well as analytical. We attach importance to establishing intellectual interaction and cooperation with the world.
With our knowledge-based and thought-based activities, we aim to build a common public benefit for researchers, civil society, policy makers and sectors.
A Just, Equitable and Prosperous Society
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Yayınlar
Platform 2024 Special Edition
Throughout 2024, The Platform: Current Muslim Affairs offered analyses and interviews covering key themes such as higher education, migration, media, civil society, and science and technology in Muslim societies. In addition to covering major topics, The Platform has closely monitored and highlighted contemporary issues, including boycott movements and South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, as well as Türkiye's effort to normalize with the Assad regime and women's rights discourse in the U.S. elections. The Platform has also featured interviews with influential Muslim figures, Muhammad Jalal and Issa Amro discussing topics like social media visibility for Muslims and Palestinian resistance. While a conversation with Muhammad Mussa from CAGE International highlighted the 9/11 "War on Terror" policies and its implications for Muslims regarding human rights violations, the interview with Fowzia Siddiqui on the Free Aafia Movement shed light on ongoing injustices. We are pleased to present The Platform: Current Muslim Affairs 2024, which provides in-depth analyses of the developments and challenges faced by Muslim societies around the world over the past year. Our goal is to offer a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the relationship between the local realities of Muslim communities and global dynamics. We envision the project as an essential resource in pursuing a more just world order. We hope that readers find it valuable and that it inspires meaningful discussions among those interested in these important issues.
Etkinlikler
Activism in the Time of Gaza Genocide and Its Impact on Islamophobia
ILKE Foundation invites you to engage in a discussion about the future of Palestine. Join us for a face-to-face seminar entitled " Activism in the Time of Gaza Genocide and Its Impact on Islamophobia". We will explore how anti-Zionist and pro-Palestinian actions, protests, and demonstrations have united people across religious and cultural boundaries.The solidarity shown by non-Muslims in the US and Europe, who have supported Muslims in resistance, is particularly noteworthy. The seminar will examine the potential impact of these actions to transform Islamophobia, including how they have led to the conversion of many people to Islam.Muhammad Al Attar will provide a first-hand account of activism's evolution and current trajectory, having been one of the pioneers of Palestinian actions in the USA.Khaled Beydoun, an expert in Islamophobia and international law, will analyse how global activism can challenge and reshape Islamophobic narratives that are prevalent in the US and Europe.
Haber
The 2024 Legal Monitoring Report Presented to the Public in Ankara
The 2024 Legal Monitoring Report, prepared by the Research Center for Social Thought and Policy (TODAM) within the scope of the Field Monitoring Reports Project, was introduced to the public through a comprehensive program held in Ankara on November 17, 2025. The report aims to present the legal field from a holistic perspective by analyzing the prominent legal developments of recent years and the judicial system in Türkiye through judicial statistics.Presenting a Panorama of the Legal SystemThe program commenced with the opening remarks of Atty. Ahmet Sait Öner, Chairman of the Board of the ILKE Foundation. In his address, Öner stated: "Through the Legal Monitoring Reports, we have established a long-term record regarding the legal landscape of Türkiye since 2019. By evaluating both the deficiencies and the positive developments within the legal sphere, we present a current snapshot of our country."Speaking at the opening, one of the report's editors, Asst. Prof. Dr. Muhammed Göçgün noted that the Legal Monitoring Reports have provided a consistent and objective snapshot of Türkiye's legal system since 2019 and emphasized that this continuity has transformed these studies into resources possessing increasingly significant archival value.A Multi-Dimensional Framework Regarding Turkey’s Legal System Was Outlined During the Report PresentationIn the first session, moderated by Asst. Prof. Dr. Muhammed Göçgün, the report's author, delivered presentations regarding their respective sections. Prof. Dr. Nesibe Kurt Konca emphasized that the increasing caseload in the civil judiciary cannot be resolved solely by increasing the speed of adjudication and that preventive justice mechanisms must be strengthened, particularly in areas such as divorce and tenancy disputes. She also pointed out the need to improve the quality of legal education and noted that tenancy disputes, in particular, cause a significant burden on the workload of the Civil Courts of Peace.Evaluating the criminal justice section, Prof. Dr. Ali Emrah Bozbayındır stated that Turkey ranks among the top 10 countries in terms of the number of convicts in penal institutions relative to the population, yet a "perception of impunity" persists in society. Bozbayındır remarked, "The goal should be to ensure a transition from the certainty of incarceration to the certainty of punishment."In the final part of the presentation, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Taylan Barın expressed that certain structural problems continued in 2024 regarding fundamental areas of human rights, such as freedom of expression, the right to assembly, and migrant rights. Furthermore, he drew attention to the fact that although applications from Türkiye constitute one-third of all applications to the ECtHR, the rate of violation rulings against Türkiye remains below the general average.New Constitution Discussions Were Addressed in the ProgramFollowing the presentation of the report, the program proceeded with the second session titled "New Constitution Discussions in Turkey." In this session, moderated by Atty. Ahmet Sait Öner, the speaker, and Prof. Dr. Abdurrahman Eren presented their assessments. The session addressed significant topics regarding the implications of the search for a new constitution for the legal system, current debates, and fundamental necessities. The program concluded with the contributions of the esteemed speakers and the keen interest of the attendees.