The conception of Turkishness in formal nationalism in Turkey: An examination of the government agencies which operate on the basis and focus of "Turks Abroad"

Abstract

The discussions about the perception of the concept of "Turk," and its contents and scope have an important place both in the Ottoman-Turkish political life and in the academic environment. Within the context of these discussions, I examine the perception of Turkishness at the official level. In order to analyze this perception, I examine certain government agencies which focus on activities directed at "Turks abroad" and the establishment of these which were started after the cold war period. Before doing this, I investigate the conceptions of Turkishness and "Turks abroad" in mainstream nationalist thought and in formal nationalism in the Ottoman times and the Republican era. which constitute the roots of the official conception of Turkishness. I then examine the political environment of the period after the Cold War which made it possible for Turkey to develop direct social and cultural relationships with "Turks abroad." Consequently, I illustrate and explain the official conception of Turkishness which contradicts the constitutional description of the "Turk" that is constructed as a supra-identity for societies that have different political units. In addition, I indicate there is a continuity from mainstream nationalist thoughts and formal nationalism from the Ottoman times to the Republican era which provided the grounds for the opinions directed at "Turks abroad" with enthusiasm after the Cold War period. After-the-cold-war period also provided the political grounds for this perception to bee seen clearly on the official level and to reflect on the institutional area.