Tekinalp: Apostle of Adaptation (Book)

Tekinalp: Apostle of Adaptation (Tekinalp: Uyumun Havarisi) by Rıdvan Turhan is a comprehensive biographical study of Tekinalp's intellectual and political journey, which reflects the process of modernization in the late Ottoman and early Republican periods of Türkiye. Published by Dergâh Publications in October 2022 as part of the Sociology series, the work is 417 pages long. The author documents Tekinalp’s (Moiz Kohen) story of identity, belonging, and political transformation, and discusses it in conjunction with his political arguments.

Subject

The work examines Tekinalp’s process of integration, which evolved from an Ottomanist political stance to a pro-Turkish intellectual movement. His identity as a Balkan Jew, his intellectual practices linked to the Committee of Union and Progress, his stance in the debates on Zionism, his representation at the Ninth Zionist Congress, and his Turkification theses during the Republican period are analyzed chronologically. Additionally, his views on the issue of the Jewish population’s adaptation within Kemalist modernization are addressed in detail.

Themes

• Conflict of Identity and Belonging: The work describes his tense position between his religious and ethnic identity and his Ottoman Turkish identity.
• Modernization and Policies of Adaptation: Tekinalp’s proposals for integrated adaptation are discussed in conjunction with his intellectual practice.
• Intellectual Transformation: His ideological journey, which extends from Ottomanism to Turkism and Kemalism, is examined.
• Jewish Modernization: The transformation of the Jewish community within a process of nationalization, parallel to figures such as Ziya Gökalp, is described.

Analysis and Style

Rıdvan Turhan presents a biography based on sociological and historical sources. Tekinalp’s intellectual output, publications, and political activities are examined. The author uses an academic tone, supporting the text with theoretical frameworks and providing depth of analysis by frequently reminding the reader of the historical context. The book addresses opposing perspectives and political debates in an objective manner.