Modernization in Turkey...

While reading Niyazi Berkes's seminal book 'The Development of Secularism in Turkey' (Türkiye’de Çağdaşlaşma) once again...

Niyazi Berkes, one of the most important and influential intellectuals in Turkish intellectual life, analyzed the social changes that have occurred in our country over the past two hundred years and the main issues regarding our social structure in his work 'The Development of Secularism in Turkey'.

Instead of simply replicating the transformations and stages that the West underwent, he drew attention to the unique characteristics of each society and scientifically highlighted the distinctions between the social nature of the Ottoman Empire and the feudal structure in the West.

Berkes focused on the unique cultural structure and distinctions of our country and never refrained from the effort to analyze the issues facing our nation.

He also placed great importance on secularism in the society's journey toward modernization. He demonstrated the value and role of reason in modernization. In this regard, he addressed the subject within the scope of its historical process and philosophical unity.

'Modernization' Rather Than 'Westernization'

When looking at our country's/society's efforts toward modernization, it has continued as a struggle between moves toward innovation and the objections of traditional and clichéd structures against these initiatives.

Although the changes that emerged in the West in technology, science, culture, art, philosophy, and institutional structure brought various problems with them, they enabled the West to gain strength against its nearby rival, the Ottoman Empire.

The developments observed in the West during the 18th century and the first quarter of the 19th century also influenced the Ottoman Empire; in Berkes' assessment, 'To the extent that it could not keep pace with these developments, it was dragged along from behind, and finally, during the Tanzimat era, it was forced to surrender itself to that flood.'
In this context, it is necessary to address the changes and reform movements in Turkish society in line with these developments.

Berkes states that the intellectual approach, which assumes we can catch up by copying Western advancements one-to-one rather than grasping them at their foundation, is a mistake. It is also noteworthy that the term 'Westernization' has come to the fore more than 'modernization'.

Niyazi Berkes considers that the issues would essentially be resolved not by 'Westernizing' but by 'not Westernizing.' This is why Berkes prefers the term 'modernization' over 'Westernization'.

On the other hand, Niyazi Berkes points out that the debates on Westernization that began in the Ottoman Empire took on a new character with the establishment of the Republic of Turkey and the Atatürk reforms.

With the victory of the National Struggle, social revolutions began, and modernization in our country continued with these breakthroughs.

The Turkish nation, which fought against imperialism in the National War of Independence led by Atatürk, did not turn its back on the West after declaring its victory and independence. It determined its direction in the context of modernization, development, and progress.

As Berkes also emphasized, Atatürk demonstrated the ability to 'turn toward the West while fighting the West, and to look at the West from a different perspective.'

In other words, neither dependence on the West nor hostility toward the West!

Our War of Independence is the touchstone of our consciousness of being a nation. Atatürk's principles and revolutions are the complement to this consciousness.

Niyazi Berkes evaluates Turkish nationalism as a movement that creates the momentum for moves that will ensure the transformation of the future, independent of the molds of the past.

Starting from his book 'Modernization in Turkey', I consider it a duty to emphasize Niyazi Berkes and his scientific, objective stance that explains the realities.

I would like to reiterate that all of his works, which still maintain their relevance, especially 'Atatürk and Revolutions', 'The Western Problem in Turkish Thought', 'Westernism, Nationalism and Social Revolutions', and 'Why Have We Been Faltering for 200 Years', are important.