With reach experience on the ground MDN brings new issues to the field of academic research. It also sets new conceptual frameworks to explain the challenged faced by the public authorities. MDN pioneered in Turkey in developing framework for role of local governments in international migration. It also designed novel strategy for international cooperation of municipalities. E.g. publications on “Expat Friendly Public Policy for Istanbul: From Discourse to Action”, “Transformation in Discourse and Action in Migration Policy and the Municipalities”, “International Cooperation Strategy for Municipalities”.