In early October, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund will hold their annual meeting in Istanbul. This issue of TPQ explores the impact of the global financial crisis on Turkey and its neighbors to the east and the west. Authors offer ideas and analysis on the policies currently in place to overcome current economic challenges, as well as to prevent those in the future. As world financial leaders, bureaucrats, politicians, businesspeople and NGO communities convene in Istanbul, we hope to contribute to the debate. Beyond substantiating Turkey’s claim to be a regional hub and cultural bridge, we want to listen and learn from our neighbors in order to achieve mutually beneficial results. As TPQ, we are delighted that the annual World Bank and IMF meetings provide a unified platform for interaction between different country and sector representatives whose interests are intertwined: in re-energizing the global economy and protecting the environment.