IPI’s policy forum on February 23rd brought together Ambassador Ertuğrul Apakan of Turkey and three expert panelists to discuss a recent IPI book Security & Development: Searching for Critical Connections and assess the promise and shortcomings of integrating security and development policies.

Two of the book’s three co-editors served on the panel. Co-editor Neclâ Tschirgi said their research “yielded strong empirical evidence that challenges the mantra that ‘without security there is no development and without development there is no security.'”

“Yes, the two are linked,” she said, “but in multiple and varying configurations.”

“We have to overcome the stovepipe way that we are currently, in our international institutions, working through these problems,” said Francesco Mancini, co-editor of the book and IPI’s Senior Fellow & Director of Research, who gave a visual presentation at the event. “We need to understand that the connections at regional levels, at local levels, and at problem levels require more coordination, but also more integration in the way we work in our international institutions.”

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Apakan said, “As a member of the Security Council and as an emerging donor country, the broad policy lessons and recommendations offered in the book are of great importance to Turkey.”

Dr. Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, a development economist who wrote the book’s chapter on development aid strategies and their impact on conflict, also gave a presentation at the event.

The panel was moderated by Dr. Edward C. Luck, IPI Senior Vice President for Research and Programs.

 Read event transcript

Read more about the book