What is it about?
This article analyses how Ziya Gökalp, the founding father of Turkish sociology and a prominent politician of the early 20th century, adapted Durkheimian sociology to respond to the sociopolitical problems of the period. It proposes that: (1) Gökalp’s culture–civilization distinction is the foundation of his attempt to provide a basis for social unity in Turkey; and (2) Durkheim’s theoretical claims regarding magic and religion in particular, and his view on the relationship between social constraints and individual agencies in general, are intrinsic to the culture–civilization duality.
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Why is it important?
Although Emile Durkheim’s sociology was used by the Turkish state elite in the early 20th century, no comprehensive literature delineating its influence on Turkish politics exists. This study helps to fill this scholarly lacuna.
Perspectives
I am very pleased with the study, as it helped me to clearly demonstrate the impact of Emile Durkheim's sociology on Turkish politics. This is very significant considering that we are living in an age, when social sciences are expected to show their impacts.
Dr Turkay Salim Nefes
University of Oxford
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Ziya Gökalp’s adaptation of Emile Durkheim’s sociology in his formulation of the modern Turkish nation, International Sociology, May 2013, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0268580913479811.
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