Challenges Encountered and Proposed Solutions

This chapter classifies the main challenges encountered within the social sciences research ecosystem in Türkiye and discusses corresponding solution proposals in a systematic manner. It examines scientific and academic quality issues (lack of theoretical depth, methodological limitations, difficulties in data access, problems in ethics and peer-review processes), financial and institutional obstacles (inequalities in access to funding, short-term and fragmented support schemes, inadequate research infrastructure) and bureaucratic barriers (complex regulations, burdensome permit procedures, rigid governance structures) as core dimensions. In addition, ecosystem-level challenges such as human resource constraints, precarious career paths for early-career researchers, brain drain, weak culture of interdisciplinary collaboration and limited interaction between universities, society and public institutions are analysed. Rather than presenting these issues as a mere catalogue of complaints, the chapter offers concrete and implementable policy recommendations for each area, including institutional reform, funding design, governance arrangements, incentive systems and capacity-building programmes. In doing so, it proposes a holistic roadmap for improving the research environment in the social sciences, strengthening academic freedom and autonomy, and enhancing the contribution of social science knowledge to societal and political decision-making processes.

Click to cite.

Note: You can access the citation text via the ‘Actions’ tab in Crossref.