Visiting scholar Asli Aygünes presented research on the feminist movement in Turkey

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You wrote your PhD about the feminist movement in Turkey, what are the most important issues for feminists in Turkey today, and how would you describe the conditions for feminist activism?

Contemporary feminist struggles in Türkiye are shaped by an increasingly restrictive political environment marked by authoritarian governance, rising anti-gender mobilizations, and the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, which together signal a broader erosion of gender equality frameworks . Feminists today are particularly mobilized around issues such as gender-based violence, bodily autonomy, LGBTQ+ rights, and the re-establishment of legal protections for women. These struggles unfold within a shrinking civil space characterized by protest bans, surveillance, and stigmatization of activism, making feminist engagement both politically risky and emotionally demanding. At the same time, feminist activism has gained heightened visibility and continues to adapt through both street-based and digital forms of resistance. This dual condition—constraint alongside persistence—defines feminist activism in Türkiye as both precarious and remarkably resilient.

One of the questions you seek to answer in your research is what makes feminist activists in Turkey to continue their engagement – what answers to that question have you come up with

My research shows that feminist activists in Türkiye sustain their engagement through a dynamic interplay between emotions, particularly anger and hope, rather than through purely strategic or ideological commitments. Anger often emerges as the initial catalyst, rooted in everyday experiences of inequality and political disenfranchisement, and pushes individuals toward collective action. However, what sustains long-term engagement is the transformation of this anger into what I conceptualize as “affective solidarity,” where shared emotions foster belonging, empathy, and collective resilience. Through participation in feminist communities, activists reinterpret personal frustrations as part of broader structural injustices, which strengthens their commitment to the movement. These affective bonds not only provide emotional support but also create a sense of purpose and responsibility that anchors activists to feminist politics over time. Ultimately, it is this continuous negotiation between emotional dissonance and solidarity that enables feminist activism to endure under challenging conditions.

Apart from your research, you work as a project coordinator for the Center for Social Innovation in TED University (İstasyonTEDU), did you find any similarities between that work and the work done at the Social Impact Lab in Örebro University?

Yes, I found strong parallels between the two institutions, particularly in how they position the university as an actor that translates knowledge into societal impact. Both İstasyonTEDU and the Social Impact Lab at Örebro University function as intermediary spaces that connect academic research with real-world challenges, emphasizing collaboration with external stakeholders and users to co-create solutions . At İstasyonTEDU we focus more on capacity-building, training, and supporting social entrepreneurs through programs, consultancy, and ecosystem development. And as far as we have discussed, the Social Impact Lab structures their work as a year-long innovation programme that guides participants in developing socially impactful ideas rooted in research. In both of these structures, there is a clear emphasis on social innovation as a tool for addressing societal problems and improving living conditions. In the future, I hope both institutions can find opportunities to collaborate in meaningful ways.

Finally, what will you take with you from your visit to Örebro University?

After this visit, I take with me not only valuable academic and professional insights, but also a deeper appreciation of how collaboration can be nurtured through everyday practices. The visit allowed me to experience a different dynamic academic culture and meet inspiring colleagues coming from different disciplines. I left Örebro with a strong sense of connection and the confidence that this exchange can evolve into long-term partnerships. I can attest that this was a highly enriching experience that will continue to inform both my academic and professional work.