Routledge Library Editions: Turkey – serie

This collection of previously out-of-print titles examines the state of Turkey in both its Ottoman and modern incarnations. Radical politics are detailed alongside constitutional democracy, as well as Ottoman politics and history.

This book, first published in 1971, details the Muhammad ‘Ārif manuscript which propagates the project of the Hejaz railway connecting Damascus with Medina and Mecca. The project has been seen as a specific, dramatic example of the phenomenon of growing Arab nationalism during the early years of the twentieth century. Included here is an annotated edition of the Arabic manuscript, an English translation, and an extensive introduction with notes and historical setting. The ‘Ārif manuscript gives a clear view of the struggle for reform in Turkey at the time when burgeoning Arab nationalism became an important factor in the railway project. Many aspects of Middle Eastern politics can be traced to basic factors described in the manuscript by ‘Ārif.

This book, first published in 1932, conducts a thorough survey of the modern state of Turkey as it stood in the period between the wars. The author, an expert on the country, endeavoured to present a critical account of Turkey, and examines nationalism, the politics and economics of the young republic, society, international relations, the role of women and minorities in Turkish society, and the prospects for Turkey’s future. It is a key text in the development of Turkey.

Debates on the world historical place of the Ottoman Empire in the last few decades have been conducted mainly in Turkey, but increasingly concepts have been introduced into the conversation from the study of European, Chinese and Central Asian history. This book, first published in 1992, examines the nature of the Ottoman state from a variety of perspectives, economic, political and social.

Since the establishment in 1945 of a constitutional democracy, political parties have figured prominently in Turkish politics. This book, first published in 1991, examines the role they have played. Key features of the political culture of the Turkish republic have created dilemmas for multi-party democracy: Atatürkism still exerts a powerful influence on the country’s bureaucratic and military elites. With their notion of ‘responsible leadership’ and of democracy as rational intellectual debate in pursuit of the ‘best’ policy, they have expected an unrealistic degree of idealism and statesmanlike behaviour from the leaders of political parties. Three times, in 1960, 1971 and 1980, the military has intervened in politics – on the third occasion to undertake wholesale constitutional and legal restructuring aimed at producing ‘sensible’ politicians. Given these ambiguous circumstances, what role have the political parties themselves played in the promotion and functioning of democracy in Turkey, and what are their attitudes to the issues involved? This collection of essays discusses political parties since the foundation of the Turkish Republic in 1923 until the 1990s. With contributions from leading political scientists and historians of modern Turkey, it is indispensable reading for all those concerned with the country.

The fact that the active and organized involvement of radical movements in Turkish politics is a recent development renders its investigation difficult. To be meaningful, the terms ‘Left’, ‘Right’ and ‘Islamist’ have to relate to specific situations, and against a background of freedom of action. In Turkey, therefore, the main field of study should be the years following the 1960 Revolution – the period which is the main concern of this book, first published in 1974.

This book, first published in 1971, details the Muhammad ‘Ārif manuscript which propagates the project of the Hejaz railway connecting Damascus with Medina and Mecca. The project has been seen as a specific, dramatic example of the phenomenon of growing Arab nationalism during the early years of the twentieth century. Included here is an annotated edition of the Arabic manuscript, an English translation, and an extensive introduction with notes and historical setting. The ‘Ārif manuscript gives a clear view of the struggle for reform in Turkey at the time when burgeoning Arab nationalism became an important factor in the railway project. Many aspects of Middle Eastern politics can be traced to basic factors described in the manuscript by ‘Ārif.

This book, first published in 1932, conducts a thorough survey of the modern state of Turkey as it stood in the period between the wars. The author, an expert on the country, endeavoured to present a critical account of Turkey, and examines nationalism, the politics and economics of the young republic, society, international relations, the role of women and minorities in Turkish society, and the prospects for Turkey’s future. It is a key text in the development of Turkey.

Debates on the world historical place of the Ottoman Empire in the last few decades have been conducted mainly in Turkey, but increasingly concepts have been introduced into the conversation from the study of European, Chinese and Central Asian history. This book, first published in 1992, examines the nature of the Ottoman state from a variety of perspectives, economic, political and social.

Since the establishment in 1945 of a constitutional democracy, political parties have figured prominently in Turkish politics. This book, first published in 1991, examines the role they have played. Key features of the political culture of the Turkish republic have created dilemmas for multi-party democracy: Atatürkism still exerts a powerful influence on the country’s bureaucratic and military elites. With their notion of ‘responsible leadership’ and of democracy as rational intellectual debate in pursuit of the ‘best’ policy, they have expected an unrealistic degree of idealism and statesmanlike behaviour from the leaders of political parties. Three times, in 1960, 1971 and 1980, the military has intervened in politics – on the third occasion to undertake wholesale constitutional and legal restructuring aimed at producing ‘sensible’ politicians. Given these ambiguous circumstances, what role have the political parties themselves played in the promotion and functioning of democracy in Turkey, and what are their attitudes to the issues involved? This collection of essays discusses political parties since the foundation of the Turkish Republic in 1923 until the 1990s. With contributions from leading political scientists and historians of modern Turkey, it is indispensable reading for all those concerned with the country.