AbstractsHistory

Before Gokalp and After Gokalp: Ziya Gokalp and Literary Turkism, 1876-1923

by Amy L. Archer




Institution: The Ohio State University
Department: History
Degree: MA
Year: 2015
Keywords: History; Middle Eastern History; Middle Eastern Studies; Modern History; Near Eastern Studies; Gokalp; Ziya Gokalp; Mehmet Ziya; Turkism; Yusuf Akcura; Turkish nationalism; Huseyinzade Ali
Record ID: 2058354
Full text PDF: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1419950705


Abstract

Ziya Gokalp has been credited as the architect of Turkish nationalism, having provided the framework for social and cultural solidarity among Turks in the Turkish Republic through his writings Turklesmek, Islamlasmak, Muasirlasmak (1918) and Turkculugun Esaslari (1923). Scholars - notably Heyd, Parla, and Berkes – have examined and analyzed Gokalp’s non-fiction works in order to provide a greater understanding of the Turkish intellectual’s social and political thought. Yet Gokalp also left behind a large body of fictional works, including poetry, epics, and folk tales, that have been largely neglected in the scholarship. The aim of this work is to look at Gokalp’s fictional works alongside his political and social writings in order to better understand the purpose and views of such an influential and controversial figure.