Collaborating Diplomatically

RSOG Leadership in Action

Collaborating Diplomatically  

with

Her Excellency Dr. Merve Safa Kavakçı

 

When: 23 March 2018

Where: Razak School of Government

Guest Speaker: Her Excellency Dr. Merve Safa Kavakçı

 Framework of the Session

 “In the words of a Turkish proverb, “The rock would not budge from its place — not unless you would cooperate”.  In this sense, ambassadors embody the essence of this message as they seek common ground and build bridges between their nation and their host to seek mutual areas of cooperation. To accomplish this, ambassadors must balance between immersing themselves with the local culture and values while staying true to their country’s policies. How does an envoy begin to build trust with new people, and what are some of the pitfalls to avoid when striving towards a common good? This session aims to explore the unique leadership perspective of H.E. Dr Merve Safa Kavakçı, who was appointed as the Turkish ambassador to Malaysia in 2017.”

 Key Takeaways from the Session

 If one tries to google the word collaboration, one can conveniently find millions of results ranging from definition to management tips to its benefits, and even structures that promote collaboration.  The perceived idea is based on one can’t afford to live alone in this inter-dependent world – a global village.  Perhaps such an idea is becoming more prevalent lately considering the success of technology-driven-collaborations such as Uber, Airbnb, and Alibaba.  Such collaborations have somewhat challenged the status quo and appear to be well received, particularly, by the end user.

 That said, what could have prompted these collaborations in the first place?  Apparently, many successful collaborations are driven by trust which is often built around a solid understanding of the involved parties. Of course, other related elements like timing, luck, and incentives do play a role.  Rigorous efforts and a great deal of time are often spent to achieve such level of understanding.  The more sophisticated ones even use algorithms in trying to understand others. In short, collaboration requires understanding that is derived from reality and not perception.

 As for diplomacy, a prominent leader could be right when he profoundly articulated diplomacy as the art of telling people to go to hell.  Given the context of contemporary diplomacy, those involved in the frontline seem to have a tough time managing diplomacy. This is especially so considering globalisation, prolonged uncertainties, and emerging non-state actors in addition to the established ones would naturally be keen to exert their dominance.  In the case of Turkey, their diplomacy-related challenges are even more complex.  They have their foot in both Asia and Europe. Culturally different from the majority of the European Union members, Turkey’s accession into the union, which is still pending, has its ups and downs along the way.  The European Union and its regime appear to move in another direction.  Some amount of prudence is required to ensure that Turkey is not at risk, as far as diplomacy is concerned.

 Elsewhere across the globe, people are looking for options. They generally value alternatives and embrace universally good values. As such, efforts in terms of collaboration and diplomacy should ideally be straightforward and authentic, which at times can be challenging, as people generally have more than one identity.

 Based on the foregoing, it is imperative for one to have self-consciousness, ability to recognise the root of the problem, if any, and value knowledge and understanding of others in making informed decisions.  Commitment to such a shift should ideally start with oneself.

 Key issues raised

 

  • Like Malaysia, Turkey is serious in reforming its healthcare system. Reallocation of resources and genuine concern for others are among the highlights of the ongoing reforms.
  • People, by nature are comfortable with their routine. Often, it takes courage and drive to collaborate with others who may have a different perspective altogether.  Upholding integrity is of utmost importance in many collaborations as it helps to ensure all involved are treated with equity, with no strings attached.
  • Whilst the notion of “the world is greater than five” is timely in inspiring people especially the young ones to make good changes, it must be realistically intertwined with the more established thoughts. Ideally, problems in hand must be identified and managed in a principled way.
  • Brexit and the rise of Asia generally caught the attention of Turkey and to some extent influenced their journey into the European Union (EU). Be that as it may, future directions require more detailed analysis which includes amongst others, the societal dynamics in the EU itself, identities, and a host of other qualitative factors.

 About the Guest Speaker

 Her Excellency Dr. Merve Safa Kavakçı is presently the Turkish Ambassador to Malaysia. She was previously in politics and has considerable experience in academia. A Harvard graduate, Kavakci was a professor at George Washington University and Howard University in Washington DC. She has a string of accolades such as the World’s Most Influential 500 Muslims, “Women of Excellence”, Public Service Award, and the Mother of the Year Award.