The Decolonization Forum Series begins from the recognition that contemporary global crises cannot be understood apart from the colonial legacies that continue to shape our world. Globalization that claimed to bring “universal progress” has instead functioned as a mechanism that reproduces problematic legacies of colonialism across economic, cultural, and epistemic dimensions. The crises of our time such as; demographic changes in societies, transformations in family structures, technological developments such as artificial intelligence that disrupt existing social structures, inequalities in access to healthcare, environmental degradation, failed development models, and the persistence of violent conflicts reveal the limits of the existing order and the need of rethinking knowledge production processes, institutional structures, and social relations. In today’s multipolar world, where multiple centers of power are emerging simultaneously, pursuing efforts of decolonization theoretically and translating these theories into lived realities are more urgent than ever to reshape intellectual traditions, institutional frameworks, and social life.

The Decolonization Forum Series responds to this necessity by bringing together scholars and practitioners from diverse disciplines and regions. The aim here is to connect multiple knowledge traditions, foster cross-cultural and interdisciplinary exchanges, avoid reductionist dichotomies, and create new possibilities for dialogue, critical thought, and collective production. Within this framework, the Decolonization Forum Series serves not only as a space for academic discussion but also as a meeting ground where experiences from different geographies can be shared and new collaborations can emerge.

Istanbul as a City of Pluralist Creativity