"The New Normal in Global Governance: The Permanence of Crises" panel was held as part of the "International Strategic Communication Summit (STRATCOM) 2026.
At the panel held during the summit organised in Istanbul by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, remarks were delivered by Prof. Edibe Sözen Çetintaş, Rector of Maltepe University; Prof. Mehmet Emin Babacan, faculty member at Marmara University; Jonathan Fowler, Director of Communications at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA); Dr Qamar Cheema, Executive Director of the Pakistan-based Sanober Institute; and İsmet Fatih Cancar, Advisor to the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Highlighting the strategic importance of resilience in responding to the persistence of crises, Prof. Çetintaş stated that societal strength and the preservation of social values are essential prerequisites for a country’s resilience.
Noting that the credibility of global non-governmental organisations is increasingly being questioned, Çetintaş stated that transparent and genuine approaches to civil society need to be redefined.
Çetintaş also underlined that information disorder exacerbates crises, stressing that grand narratives and discourses must be critically re-examined.
Drawing attention to growing criticism regarding states’ responses to crises worldwide, Çetintaş noted that, despite widespread cases of human trafficking and abuse globally, Türkiye stands out as an exemplary country in the protection of children and has demonstrated a strong capacity for crisis management.
The system and values shaped in the West have lost their meaning
Prof. Babacan stated that international institutions, particularly the United Nations (UN), have lost their relevance.
Emphasising that existing security institutions and the current order have become dysfunctional, Babacan said: “Traditional security threats have resurfaced. The powerful have begun to fully exploit their capabilities, including committing the crime of genocide.”
Pointing out that no state has been able to effectively prevent major crises, including the war in Ukraine and Israel’s genocide in Gaza, Babacan stated: “The system and values shaped in the West have lost their relevance. Today, no one can meaningfully speak of human rights or liberal democracy. Humanity itself is under threat.”
Underscoring strategic communication as a critical topic in international relations, Babacan stated, "The state of Türkiye has taken significant steps to manage crises by establishing departments in charge of emergency situations and defence in all ministries by the end of 2025."
We have been targeted in a disinformation attack by Israel
Fowler pointed out that Israel targeted the UN, stating, "We have been targeted in a disinformation attack by Israeli authorities to portray us as something we are not, with the aim of completely delegitimising the organisation in line with its long-term political goals."
Recalling that approximately 400 of his colleagues were killed in the Gaza Strip, Fowler said, "There has never been another occurrence in UN history where so many humanitarian aid workers were killed."
Drawing attention to the sense of remorse once felt over violations of international humanitarian law in the past, Fowler remarked: ‘Yet today, we are witnessing these violations being blatantly carried out in Gaza, almost with an air of celebration.
Fowler evaluated Israel's UNRWA ban as follows:
"The most shocking example was Israel's acceptance of the law banning the agency's (UNRWA) activities and then allowing authorities to seize UN facilities. I have seen our offices, which should be protected under international diplomatic law, being seized and literally bulldozed. 'Dehumanisation' is being legitimised at every moment to justify war objectives. This situation endangers international law based on shared values, and if the world continues this way, the weakest will bear the brunt."
The balance of power in the global system is undergoing a profound change
Cheema stated that the balance of power in the global system is undergoing a profound change, saying, "The power chessboard is no longer as it was in previous decades; power no longer resides solely with a single nation."
Arguing that the current superpowers dominating the world are undergoing a crisis of confidence, Cheema said, "The great powers are immense, and they are excessively involved in conflict and competition. They are experiencing a lack of trust and are sidelining the institutions they established. The current superpower, gripped by insecurity, acts out of panic to maintain its strength, taking immoral and costly decisions that violate international law."
Emphasising that the international system is entering a period in which no single nation can assert hegemony, Cheema argued that “middle powers such as Pakistan and Türkiye can play a bridging role among actors, contributing to the rebuilding of trust through multi-alignment strategies and sustainable strategic communication."
Highlighting that the world is in an era of complex interdependence, Cheema stated, “We are inseparably linked, much like a pop culture phenomenon." The speaker underscored the need for international cooperation, saying, "Cross-border crime and economic interdependence bind us together."
Türkiye continues to be a key actor, assuming a pivotal role
Cancar explained that "normalcy" has become entirely obsolete as a condition for stability in global governance, leading small and medium-sized actors, without protection in the international system, to establish their own micro-alliances.
Pointing out that the Balkans are no stranger to a state of “continuous crisis” due to the Russia–Ukraine war, Cancar said, “For the Balkans, especially Bosnia and Herzegovina, the so-called ‘new normal’ is in fact the ‘old normal.’ The efforts of great powers to impose their hegemony on the region have produced lasting fault lines and conflicts.”
Cancar highlighted that the rules-based order that has defined the international system over the past 80 years is experiencing a major rupture, stating:
"The great powers are no longer willing to defend the values and norms of international law. As a result, regional powers no longer consider themselves bound by core principles such as the sanctity of territorial integrity and political sovereignty. For the last five years, the Balkans have undergone far greater turbulence than the preceding 25 years due to the redrawing of borders and the contestation of the core principles of the international order.”
Cancar emphasised that the decline of global order has resulted in political fragmentation among regional actors, fundamentally transforming security paradigms.
Drawing attention to the fact that instability in the Balkans affects not only the region itself but also the EU and the US, Cancar noted that Türkiye continues to maintain its significance as "a key actor assuming a major role" in the region.