International Strategic Research Organization

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The International Strategic Research Organization (ISRO) (Turkish: Uluslararası Stratejik Arastirmalar Kurumu (USAK)) is a controversial Turkish think tank.

1 Activities
2 Publications
3 Criticism
4 Center for Middle East and Africa Studies
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Activities

The ISRO believes that the study of international relations "suffers from limited Western-centric understanding and that they intend to provide an alternative perspective and needs more different approaches".^[1]

The activities of the ISRO include research, publications, seminars and conferences, as well as policy recommendations. They also conduct surveys on foreign policy and security issues.

[edit] Publications

English-language publications of the ISRO include the Journal of Turkish Weekly (JTW) and the Ankara Post, both available online. It further publishes Turkish, English and German language books, periodicals and onlines.

ISRO is the publisher of two academic journals: Review of International Law and Politics (RILP) and Journal of Central Asian and Caucasian Studies (JCACA).

[edit] Criticism

The institution, its branches, and its publications are known to have a highly nationalistic stance,^{[citation needed]} particularly in issues regarding the Armenian Question, which is claimed by Sedat Laçiner (who has a broad mandate over their functions^[2]) as a field of expertise.

ISRO claimed that Armenian-American band System of a Down (SOAD) issued a video clip that degraded some historical Turkish notables and announced the incident as "Provocation of the Armenian band". The clip for the song Holy Mountains was edited by a SOAD fan and shared through Internet. ISRO argued, relying on a report by Turkish daily Akşam, that SOAD had the words "no Turks no dogs" were written on the tickets for a concert in their 1998 tour with Slayer. In a message on their blog Serj Tankian of SOAD stated that they canceled their shows opening for Slayer in 1998; any ticket were printed on Slayer's behalf; and that there were no anti-Turkish slurs on the tickets.^[3]

[edit] Center for Middle East and Africa Studies

Center for Middle East and Africa Studies (CMEAS - ODAM) is located in Ankara. The aim of the centre is to provide information, advice and a forum on Middle East. The CMES (ODAM) is regularly consulted by journalists, officials, politicians, diplomats, and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on the Middle Eastern security and politics.

Founded by ISRO, the centre staff regularly contribute to the ISRO publications and organize meetings on the Middle Eastern studies.

The CMES (ODAM) arranges programs of lectures, seminars, conferences and other discussions, and sponsors research and publications.