In a period of decaying social cohesion brought about by an explosion of identity politics and marked social polarization, how do we rebuild social bonds and create a new shared story of “We,” while maintaining our sense of multiple belongings? All of this is unravelled in the books of British-Turkish novelist and political scientist Elif Shafak.
The Berggruen Institute sat down with Shafak, a Berggruen Prize Juror, for an interview about the importance of Storyland in dealing with the politics of identity and tribalism before her on-stage talk with Australian novelist and VP of Pen Center USA David Francis. Sample the interview clips or listen to the entire talk as Shafak unpacks the “us” versus “them” rhetoric, to reveal what lies beneath, while exploring how to navigate the political and cultural challenges of our turbulent times.
About Elif Shafak:
Elif Shafak is an award-winning novelist and the most widely read female author in Turkey. She writes in both Turkish and English, and has published seventeen books. Elif holds a PhD in political science and has taught at various universities in Turkey, the US and the UK, including St Anne’s College, Oxford University, where she is an honorary fellow. She is a member of Weforum Global Agenda Council on Creative Economy and a founding member of the European Council on Foreign Relations. An advocate for women’s rights, LGBT rights, and freedom of speech, Elif is an inspiring public speaker and twice a TED Global speaker. Elif contributes to major publications around the world and she has been awarded the title of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres. In 2017, she was chosen by Politico as one of the twelve people who would make the world better. She has judged numerous literary prizes and is chairing the Wellcome Prize 2019. www.elifshafak.com
Video Highlights: Berggruen Salon with Elif Shafak and David Francis.
Select Elif Shafak Interviews by Rachel S. Bauch.
