In this collection of CUDES 2017, wide spectrum of topics that occupy primary place in the current debates of International Relations and Law were addressed by the papers presented at the Current Debates in Social Sciences Conference which was held in İstanbul, on December 14-16, 2017. The purpose of this conference was to provide a forum for scholars, researchers and students to foster discussion and expand understanding on the current themes of Social Sciences. In parallel to changing and multiplying dynamics of world politics, papers reflect diversity of issues in International Relations and Law including: the impacts of the Syrian Refugee Crisis on EU-Turkey relations, lone wolf terrorism, energy security, Russia’s domestic factors in its foreign policy, foreign policy of Iran and Russia in the Middle East, Mirziyoyev’s first year in presidency, Turkish foreign aid under the Justice and Development Party, the place of civil aviation in Turkish foreign policy as a soft power instrument, the Kosovo intervention in the context of UN’s human security discourse, UN and gender issues, mediation in international law and Turkey, the development of good corporate governance in Turkey, Ombudsman institution in Turkey, the status of surviving spouse in terms of law of succession and the regime of participation in acquired property in Turkey, legitimacy of censorship in the West from the perspective of human rights, intellectual property protection for plant innovation, legal framework of ‘autonomy in modern liberal eugenics’, the impact of the new technologies on the law.