Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fatih Kanca explained the U.S. civil society ecosystem and the key role of religious diplomacy at the 20th Anatolian Gatherings.
The cross-border dimensions of civil diplomacy were discussed during the evening session on the second day of the 20th Anatolian Gatherings symposium, organized by the Anatolian Federation in Ankara. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fatih Kanca, Religious Services Counselor at the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Washington, conveyed to participants in detail the structure of the third sector in the United States and the processes through which this structure builds social trust. Emphasizing the principles of transparency and accountability, Kanca drew attention to the strategic importance of strong civil institutions in communication between countries.
STRATEGIC LESSONS
Giving a presentation titled “Civil Diplomacy in the U.S. from the Perspective of the Türkiye Century: Religious Services, Diaspora and Cultural Interaction,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kanca focused particularly on the Diyanet Center of America (DCA) model. Explaining with examples how this model successfully integrates religion, education and social services, the speaker emphasized the power of faith-based institutions in cultural interaction. Referring to the strong understanding of governance and impact-oriented culture of volunteering in the United States, he shared strategic lessons that offer a vision for civil society organizations in Türkiye.
