Ideas in Play Seminar Series – 1
On October 9, 2025, the Political Science Gaming Lab (PSGL) and the Department of Political Science and International Relations (AGU POLS) at Abdullah Gül University hosted Asst. Prof. Akile Zorlu from METU for a seminar exploring the political and social dynamics of the Hamidian era. The session focused on Abdülhamid II’s attempts to strengthen the Ottoman Empire, his rule, and opposition of various actors to his rule, which created a lively discussion and critical engagement from students. The talk also set the stage for the gaming experience that focused on hidden role game that requires cooperation under partial information.
Following the seminar, participants took part in a historical role-playing game İttihat, which brought the themes of the talk to life through strategic gameplay and dramatic interaction.
Information on the speaker and the game
Speaker:
Asst. Prof. Akile Zorlu
Department of History, Middle East Technical University (METU)
Bio:
Akile Zorlu received her BA in Western Languages and Literatures from Boğaziçi University and her MA in European History from Bilkent University. She completed her PhD in Ottoman–Turkish history at the University of Wisconsin under the supervision of Prof. Kemal Karpat, where she later also taught. Since 2009, she has been a faculty member in the Department of History at Middle East Technical University. Her research focuses on late Ottoman and early Republican modernization.
İttihat is a multiplayer strategy board game set in the late Ottoman period, centered on the power struggle between Sultan Abdülhamid II and the Young Turks.
Players vie for influence, forge alliances, and maneuver through political intrigue to shape the future of empire.