Turkification, Islamization, Modernization (Book)

Türkleşmek, İslâmlaşmak, Muasırlaşmak is a work written by Ziya Gökalp and first published in 1918 during the Ottoman Empire period by Evkaf-ı İslamiye Matbaası in the thought format. The book consists of eleven articles published by Gökalp at different times and in different places.

Content of the Book

Work, Turkism, Islamism and civilizationalism (muasırlaşma/Westernization) are the three fundamental idea currents addressed in the book, aiming to propose solutions to the social and political problems faced by the Ottoman Empire. Gökalp does not pit these three ideas against each other but seeks to reconcile them, presenting a formula for national salvation.

Ziya Gökalp sought the salvation of the state and the nation in the reconciliation of Islamic and civilizationalist ideas. He viewed Islamic and civilizationalist thought as tools that would enrich and support the idea of Turkism. Therefore, he argued that these three ideas must not be treated as separate and independent independent but must be harmonized within a unified framework together movement.

The work comprises eleven articles in total: “Üç Cereyan”, “Language”, “Anane ve Kaide”, “Hars Group, Civilizational Group”, “Türklüğün Başına Gelenler”, “Terbiye”, “Mefkûre”, “Turkish Nation and Turan”, “Millet ve Homeland”, “Milliyet Mefkûresi”, and “Milliyet ve İslâmiyet”.

Impact and Significance of the Work

The work Türkleşmek, İslâmlaşmak, Muasırlaşmak serves as a pioneer for Ziya Gökalp’s later work, “Türkçülüğün Esasları”, and is regarded as one of the key texts that shaped the ideological foundation during the transition from the late Ottoman period to the Republic of Türkiye.

This work directly influenced the formation of nationalist policies in the early years of the Republic and contributed to the development of national consciousness in Turkish society. The work continues to be published to this day in various simplified and updated editions.