About us
British Association for Turkish Area Studies
An independent, voluntary association bringing together people who want to know more about Turkey.
Who we are
The British Association for Turkish Area Studies (BATAS) aims to bring together and provide a forum for people interested in and keen to know more about Turkish life, society, history, language and culture. It is the only organisation in the United Kingdom dedicated to such an aim.
We do this through lectures, symposia, the sponsorship of publications and the distribution, free to members, of a substantial twice-yearly journal, the Turkish Area Studies Review.
Our aims
- To promote interest in and knowledge of Turkey and its cultural and geopolitical area: its history, culture, people and current affairs
- To generate support for Turkish studies in the UK
- To maintain the publication of the Turkish Area Studies Review
Our history
BATAS was founded in 1990 as the Turkish Area Study Group (TASG). The first Annual Lecture was given in April 1994 by Professor Erdal İnönü, and the lecture series has continued ever since, renamed the John Martin Lecture in 2012.
In October 2013, after consulting members at two Annual General Meetings, the Council voted to change the group's name to the British Association for Turkish Area Studies. The aim was to reflect a wider, outward-looking membership and to make the association more attractive to new members and sponsors. The title of the journal, Turkish Area Studies Review, stayed the same.
“This change has been made in the sincere belief that it will enable our organisation to face the future with greater confidence.”Celia Kerslake, Chairperson, announcing the new name in 2013
Today the association is run by a volunteer Council elected at the AGM.