4th Doğan Avcıoğlu Awards to be presented

This year's winners include individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of social sciences. Among the researchers who stood out for their academic work, Dr. Özgür Balkılıç was awarded the "First Prize" for his book "For Our Bread and Our Unity: Class Struggles in the Istanbul Metal Sector," Assoc. Prof. Dr. Güven Gürkan Öztan received the "Second Prize" for his book "From the Center to the Edges: Right-Wing Politics in the Neoliberal Era," and Dr. Erkan Kıdak was granted the "Honorable Mention" for his doctoral thesis titled "Labor Process in the Turkish Railway Industry on the Axis of Paternalism and Populism."

The Science Honorary Award was presented to Prof. Dr. Cem Eroğul for his "unique contributions to the development of critical social sciences in Turkey."

The Respect Award went to the late journalist, author, and politician Altan Öymen, who had previously served on the Doğan Avcıoğlu Award selection committee and passed away on July 19.

The Jury Special Award, presented for the first time this year, was given to journalist Dr. Merdan Yanardağ, who fearlessly defends the public's right to news. The recipient of the Jury Special Award, Dr. Merdan Yanardağ, had served on the selection committee for the Doğan Avcıoğlu Awards in previous years.

In the 4th year of the Doğan Avcıoğlu Awards, there was a change in the selection committee. The Selection Committee, chaired by Gökhan Atılgan, consists of Gamze Yücesan Özdemir, Mustafa Kemal Bayırbağ, Fatma Eda Çelik, Tülay Gencer, Çağdaş Sümer, and Elif Akkaya.

CEREMONY AND TALK

The Doğan Avcıoğlu Award Ceremony will be held on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at 14:00 at the Hasan Polatkan Culture Center. As part of the program, historian and academic Prof. Dr. Emrah Safa Gürkan will give a talk titled "Doğan Avcıoğlu as a Thinker."

"KEEPING THE ENLIGHTENMENT LEGACY ALIVE IS IMPORTANT"

Stating that such events are of great importance in terms of safeguarding Turkey's intellectual heritage, Odunpazarı Mayor Kazım Kurt said, "Doğan Avcıoğlu's ideas still guide us today. These awards given in his name carry great significance in terms of keeping critical thinking, a public-oriented perspective, and intellectual responsibility alive."