Türk Modernleşmesi Literatürünün Avrupamerkezcilik Penceresinden Değerlendirilmesi
Journal Title: insan & toplum - Year 2013, Vol 3, Issue 6
Abstract
This article offers a limited evaluation of the literature on Turkish modernization (Türk Modernleşmesi Literatürü) with reference to Eurocentrism. In this regard, the article first starts with an analysis of the titles of the basic works in the literature. After this evaluation, the paradigms that have a certain weight and effectiveness in the field will be discussed. The conflict paradigm will be discussed first, and, here, Bernard Lewis’ and Niyazi Berkes’ works will be analyzed as examples. Basic assumptions of the conflict paradigm will be discussed and their relation with Eurocentrism will be explained. The conflict paradigm argues that there is a definite opposition and complete break between the Ottoman and Republican periods. It also adopts a top-down historical approach when making this argument. Next, we will look at the integration paradigm, which offers alternative arguments to the conflict paradigm. Erik Jan Zürcher’s work will be analyzed as a representative example of the integration paradigm, and the points where his work differs from the Eurocentrist ones in the Turkish modernization literature will be explained. In contrast to the conflict paradigm, Zürcher stresses the continuity between the Ottoman and Republican Modernization period, and opens up a space for the history-from-below approach. Finally, this article discusses the opportunities that the history-from-below approach provides the Turkish literature on modernization for reducing the dominance of Eurocentrism. In this regard, İsmail Kara’s works will be analyzed as examples of the history-from- below approach.
Authors and Affiliations
İsmail Çağlar
Can Secularism Hinder Democracy? The Turkish Experiment
The concept of democracy that has gained importance since the end of the Second World War and the relation between state and religion in Turkey have attracted a considerable degree of interest in various academic circles...
Muhammad Asad between Religion and Politics
In April 2011 an international symposium was held in Riyadh, under the auspices of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies as well as the Austrian Embassy to Saudi Arabia, on the life and work of my fathe...
Evil and Violence in the Context of Ethics, Politics and Democracy
In this article, we will discuss human nature and acts with regard to evil, violence, and democracy and whether they are inherent to our nature or not on ethics and political grounds. Then we follow the question which is...
Çevreye Minberden Bakmak: Cuma Hutbelerinde Çevre Sorununun Sunumu
Cuma hutbeleri genelde akademik ilgiden mahrum kalmış ve fakat incelenmeyi hak eden bir konudur. Bir kitle iletişim vasıtası olarak Cuma hutbeleri hem sosyolojik hem de politik bir öneme sahiptir. Bu makalede, Cuma hutbe...
Beyond the Gas Trade: The Structural Determinants of Russo-Turkish Relations
The post-Cold War era has seen Russia and Turkey become close trading partners, mainly with regard to gas imported via the undersea Blue Stream pipeline. Such trade cooperation and the ensuing economic interdependence ha...