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The French Institute of Anatolian Studies is a French research center affiliated with the CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research) and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. It hosts researchers and students working on Turkey and promotes research programs in all fields of the humanities and social sciences.
It was founded in 1930 as the Institut français d’archéologie de Stamboul.
It subsequently expanded its activities to include urban planning with the creation of the Istanbul Urban Observatory (OUI) in 1988, politics through the Observatory of Turkish Political Life (OVIPOT) established in March 2005, Turkology, and ancient and medieval history. The main research areas focus on Anatolia and its surrounding regions: the Balkans and the Caucasus, depending on the period of study (Byzantine, Ottoman, or Turkish Republic). The Institute also has a library and a map collection.
More than just a research institute, the IFEA is a key player in Franco-Turkish scientific relations. This institute allows France to monitor changes taking place, particularly in Istanbul, a metropolis that has become highly prosperous and is open to both its history (Byzantine and Ottoman periods) and its current transformation (two museums of modern art, a biennial, etc.).
It is also the most important European research center in Turkey.
Each year, around fifty Francophone researchers and students from diverse backgrounds, eager to work on Turkey and its surrounding regions, find a valuable resource and point of contact within the IFEA.
A number of grants are available, subject to acceptance. The IFEA organizes conferences and debates in collaboration with other institutes and universities and participates in numerous events.
Finally, the Institute serves as an almost indispensable intermediary between French and Turkish universities and research centers. It is also a champion of the Francophonie in Turkey.