Turkey, with its history, has heavily impacted the identity of the Mediterranean region. The country’s rich archeological, religious and cultural heritage, together with its strategic geographical position, make Turkey a pivotal bridge between Middle East and the Western Hemisphere. However, the process of Turkey’s accession to the European Union remains one of the most complex and controversial challenges of the century.
In this complex environment, Istanbul (once Bysantium and Constantinople) is the perfect place to understand the main political, economic and diplomatic dynamics of the whole region.
The city’s position between two different seas, the composition of its population, and the variety of its artistic and religious outcomes contribute to make Istanbul a unique spyglass on many geopolitical issues.
Today Istanbul is the right place to approach the eastern-western studies, due to its complex combination of geographical, ethnical, cultural and political situations.
