In Ankara, Turkey, in the summer of 2025, the Turkish Objectivist Network (ObjN) transformed a quiet academic break into a season of remarkable growth and intellectual energy. Led by Orçun Koçak, Ahmet B. Arpa, and Özgür Özer, this student-centered movement has been steadily cultivating interest in Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism. At the heart of their efforts is Catalyst, an inviting coffee shop and community hub in Ankara that has become a bustling venue for debate, learning, and cultural exchange. Over the second and third quarters of 2025, Catalyst truly lived up to its name, sparking curiosity and enthusiasm among Turkish youth.
Summer Seminars Ignite Intellectual Dialogue
During the summer holidays, ObjN kept the intellectual fires burning with a robust lineup of seminars, book clubs, and discussion groups. The network’s leaders often took the helm as speakers. In June, co-founder Orçun Koçak kicked off the series with “Objectivism’s Classical Foundations,” a seminar drawing about 20 attendees to explore the roots of Rand’s ideas. By early August, Ahmet B. Arpa was leading a spirited talk, “Why Freedom of Speech is Important,” engaging 17 participants in a timely dialogue on liberty. Özgür Özer capped off the summer in mid-September with “Objectivism as a Middle-Class Ideology”; presented before an audience of 22, it underscored the philosophy’s relevance to everyday people.
In between those headline events, the Catalyst hub hosted moderated group discussions on topics like the morality of Capitalism and the ethics of taxation, as well as a special online lecture, “Ayn Rand as a Literary Figure.” Attendance at each session typically ranged from fifteen to thirty participants. Such turnouts—even during these vacation months—speak to the unique energy brewing at Catalyst. Students, young professionals, and curious locals crowded into the coffee shop’s cozy space, eager to debate ideas and challenge each other in the spirit of reason. The summer programming maintained the ObjN’s momentum through the break while also priming the community for the new academic year.
Broadening Outreach to New Audiences
Over the past two quarters, ObjN also extended its reach beyond its own walls, forging connections with other organizations to introduce Objectivist ideas to fresh audiences. In collaboration with a local youth NGO called Biz Özgürüz (“We Are Free”), the network co-hosted events that placed Objectivism in dialogue with Turkey’s current issues. Together they organized a seminar on individualism in the context of recent politics and a discussion on educational freedom and the privatization of schooling. ObjN members participated as panelists and speakers in these sessions, strengthening ties with the Biz Özgürüz community and demonstrating a willingness to engage openly with allied youth movements. These joint events at Catalyst not only spread Rand’s principles to new young thinkers but also underscored the network’s commitment to freedom and individual rights in a local context.
Meanwhile, ObjN’s leaders took their message on the road. Özgür Özer represented the network at a business-oriented leadership organization, Yenibirlider Association, sharing Objectivist perspectives alongside other high-profile speakers. He also delivered a talk for 49W, a prominent online media platform, reaching a virtual audience beyond Turkey’s capital. Collectively, these outreach efforts put Objectivism in front of hundreds of people—many of whom had never encountered Ayn Rand’s philosophy before. By planting seeds of curiosity in new minds, these engagements paved the way for the network’s upcoming “Creators & Innovators” program, a mentorship initiative aimed at nurturing future Objectivist leaders. The message is clear: ObjN is breaking out of its niche and into the broader public discourse, one partnership at a time.
Catalyst: A Hub for Community and Culture
Back at the Catalyst hub, the focus on community-building remained as strong as ever. On any given week, one might find students gathering in a corner over coffee for one-on-one tutoring in philosophy or young professionals dropping by after work to hash out ideas from the latest book club gathering. The ObjN team has made a point of offering personalized mentoring and informal meetups in addition to formal events. These intimate sessions allow for deeper exploration of Objectivist principles and individual guidance that wouldn’t be possible in a larger lecture format. Attendees regularly express appreciation for this personal touch—an approach that not only solidifies understanding of the material but also fosters lasting friendships and intellectual camaraderie among Turkey’s budding Objectivists.
Importantly, Catalyst has also evolved into a vibrant cultural space. The network actively welcomes local arts and culture groups to utilize the venue, widening its appeal and impact. By opening its doors to everything from literary clubs to art workshops, the hub is developing into a center for both intellectual and cultural exchange. This cross-pollination of ideas has enriched the atmosphere at Catalyst, drawing in creative minds who might not otherwise engage with Objectivism and showing that a philosophy of reason and individualism can harmoniously coexist with artistic expression. The buzz of activity—whether it’s a philosophic debate or a poetry reading—affirms Catalyst’s role as more than just a coffee shop; it’s truly a community incubator for free thought.
Gearing Up for Atlas Conference 2025
As summer turns to fall, the Turkish Objectivist Network is channeling its grassroots momentum into an upcoming flagship event. Atlas Conference 2025 is on the horizon, scheduled for October 25 in Ankara, and preparations are well underway. The team has finalized logistical arrangements and is now working to secure high-profile speakers and academics to enrich the conference’s themes. This gathering—obviously inspired in name by Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged—promises to be the culmination of the year’s efforts, bringing together students, professionals, and intellectuals from across Turkey for a day of Objectivist thought and celebration. For many in the ObjN community, the conference represents the next big leap: from intimate hub conversations to a national stage spotlight.
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The achievements of ObjN in Q2 and Q3 2025 paint an inspiring picture of a movement on the rise. What began as a small group of passionate students in a cozy Ankara coffee shop has grown into a vibrant network spanning seminars, partnerships, and soon, a full-fledged conference. The dedication of leaders Koçak, Arpa, and Özer is evident in every event organized and every new connection forged—their hands-on approach and youthful passion have been the driving force behind ObjN’s success. Equally important is the enthusiasm of the participants: the unique energy of Turkey’s young Objectivists, who have embraced Catalyst as both an intellectual playground and a second home. Together, they are breathing new life into Ayn Rand’s ideas on Turkish soil, showing how a grassroots, student-driven movement can flourish against the odds. For supporters of the Prometheus Foundation, the story of ObjN’s summer surge is a heartening reminder that big ideas often start small—sometimes with just a few friends, some coffee, and an unwavering conviction that knowledge and freedom can light the way to a better future.
