DOI: 10.58867/IEBJ9494
There have been numerous significant developments for TPQ since 2022. Our recent rebranding as Transatlantic Policy Quarterly not only reflects our expanded focus on international issues with broad implications for European and American politics, but also incorporates a new vision for the future. Our most recent issues focused on various aspects of the broader challenges and possibilities presented by this new vision, and we gratefully received numerous contributions from our eminent authors. Although we have published some of these articles in previous issues, it was necessary to give the floor to other authors whose Opinion articles also made an outstanding contribution. Keeping this in mind, we have prepared this special issue, the primary objective of which is to give a collection of such remarkable works, including those that have been previously published digitally.
Our fascinating conversation with Mr. Jakob Hallgren, Director of the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (Utrikespolitiska Institutet, UI), which took place in October 2022, is also included in this issue. During this important interview, we asked Mr. Hallgren a variety of questions about the dynamic nature of European politics and UI's work, and he provided valuable insight into the organization's vision and his own thoughts on the matter. We hope you will appreciate reading this important interview, and we look forward to conducting similar ones with other influential individuals and institutions in upcoming issues.
The Director of the Ukrainian Institute for International Politics, Ms. Nadija Afanasieva, asserts that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has altered how security and international law were viewed on a worldwide scale. Based on this premise, she contends that it is imperative to contemplate the prospective structure of regional collaboration with regards to security and sustainable development within the region, particularly considering the presence of a potentially hostile nation in the eastern portion of the continent.
According to Professor Hossein G. Askari, the inception of the contemporary era of economic sanctions may be traced back to the aftermath of World War I. Economic sanctions, particularly naval embargoes, have been widely seen as a viable means to curtail the military capabilities of opposing entities. However, the author asserts that other nations, including the United States, regarded them as unlawful. Following the conclusion of the war, the League of Nations incorporated economic sanctions into its covenant, allowing for their implementation under strict and specific circumstances. With the conclusion of World War II, the establishment of the United Nations marked a significant development in international relations. However, it is worth noting that economic sanctions were not widely regarded as a legitimate tool of foreign policy during this period.
Ms. Ruth Dorsainville examines the effects of Executive Order 13985 on issues of equality, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The author posits that the Executive Order on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in the Federal Workforce is aimed at eliminating structural injustices arising from the absence of equity and accessibility within the Federal workforce. Similar to other systemic issues, the author holds the belief that the Federal government acknowledges the impracticality of resolving this matter through a simplistic and expedient strategy. Therefore, she claims that the Biden administration is advocating for a comprehensive and coordinated approach, wherein all governmental entities and employers actively contribute to the development of a viable and enduring resolution.
We invite you to delve deeper into the various facets of this special edition of TPQ, titled 'Opinions Matter: Navigating Perspectives.' On behalf of Transatlantic Policy Quarterly, I would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the dedicated contributors who invested substantial time and effort into this endeavor. The TPQ team thoroughly enjoyed the process of curating this exceptional edition, and we are immensely grateful for the invaluable support provided by our longstanding partner, the Halifax International Security Forum. Special recognition goes to our esteemed corporate sponsor, Yapı Kredi. We would also like to express our appreciation to our other sponsors, including Beko, Ford, Gordon-Blair, Kalekim, TEB, The Ritz-Carlton, Tüpraş, Turcas, and Uluslararası İlişkiler Dergisi, for their unwavering support.
Aybars Arda Kılıçer
Editor-in-Chief