Are mayors in Türkiye still merely local actors governing cities, or have they become political figures at the very center of the constantly shifting gravitational forces between the ruling power, the opposition, and state mechanisms?
Today, this position is more fragile than ever.
With the increasing dominance of the ruling power on one side, the political claims staked by the opposition through municipalities on another, and the institutional and legal mechanisms of the state on the third... Caught in the middle of these three gravitational fields, mayors are trying to establish a stable orbit—much like planets in the Three-Body Problem.
In his lecture titled "The Three-Body Problem of Mayors," Prof. Dr. Savaş Zafer Şahin—Faculty Member at Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University and Deputy Chairman of the Ankara City Council—will discuss how mayors position themselves within the volatile power dynamics among the ruling power, the opposition, and state mechanisms. He will explore whether escaping the chaotic orbit of local politics in Türkiye is possible through institutional capacity, participatory governance, and collective intelligence.
DATE: Wednesday, June 24, 2026
TIME: 14.00 (2.00 PM)
VENUE: G262, FEAS Building B, METU
You can register by clicking the "Register for Event" button or by filling out the registration form via the link below:
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