Reconfigurations in the Discourse of Nationalism and National Identity: Turkey at the Turn of the Twenty‐first Century

Abstract

Throughout recent decades, the processes of globalisation and Europeanisation have been influential in Turkey, bringing various changes to the economic, cultural and political spheres. Within the context of these processes, this article analyses the changes and continuities in the discourse of nationalism and national identity in Turkey through their reflections on school textbooks and curricula. On the one hand, the globalisation process has brought calls for democratisation, as well as citizenship and identity claims, from the societal actors in Turkey. On the other hand, it has given rise to concerns about preserving the status quo, which have then been channelled into the language of nationalism. The Europeanisation process has also fed these projects and discourses. Its effects, in moments of close interrelations between Turkey and the European Union, have consisted of bringing positive reinforcements for the decoupling of security concerns and nationalism, the formation of a new and democratic understanding of citizenship and the realisation of ambitions for democratisation in Turkey; however, in other times, backlashes have occurred.

Definitions of Turkish in‐group boundaries: national participation and essentialism as predictors of inter‐group attitudes in Turkey

“…As noted earlier, the West has often been represented as undermining Turkish unity, territory and culture; disliking a strong Turkey; and attempting to divide the country (İnaç ). This, in turn, has influenced the elements of Turkish nationality by increasing the focus on concepts, such as common language, history, homeland and culture (Kancı ). Parallel to this, the results suggested that those Turkish participants who emphasise civic, cultural, territorial and contribution to one's country‐related criteria for belonging to the Turkish in‐group have a desire to protect Turkish identity against threats posed by Western groups.…”

“…Meanwhile, the West was generally perceived as threatening the existence and unity of the Turkish state. With the post‐9/11 American occupation of Iraq (where Muslim people were presented as the dangerous ‘other’), anti‐Western thoughts and feelings have increased among Turkish people (Kancı ).…”

Mining conflicts and transformative politics: A comparison of Intag (Ecuador) and Mount Ida (Turkey) environmental struggles

“…Kancı, 2009). These are also the groups that have more financial and organizational resources, connections to local and national media, and links to diverse social and political networks, including the regional economic powers such as the olive and tourism industries.…”

Changes and Continuities in Citizenship Education: What kind of Citizenship Education does the 2018 Social Studies Programme of Study Envisage?

“…AB üyelik süreci etkisi ile ders kitaplarında daha yasal ve eşitlikçi bir vatandaşlık anlayışı ön plana çıkmaya başlamıştır. Araştırmalar bu dönem ders kitaplarında demokrasi ve çok-kültürlülük ile ilgili yapılan değişiklikleri yüzeysel olarak niteleyerek, etno-kültürel unsurlarının örtük bir biçimde devam ettiğini belirtmiştir (Çayır, 2011Ersoy, 2013;Kanci, 2009). Bu araştırmalar, bu dönem ders kitaplarındaki en önemli sorunlardan birisini, çok-kültürlülük ve toplumsal çeşitlilikle ilgili konuların, Türkiye toplumunu oluşturan dini ve etnik azınlıklara atıf yapılmadan yüzeysel bir dille geçiştirilmesi olarak not etmiştir.…”