Turkists

Turkists, or Turkist movements, are a range of political and cultural ideologies that advocate for the political and cultural unity of Turkic peoples. These movements emphasize a shared linguistic, cultural, and historical heritage among populations that speak Turkic languages. Turkism emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, influenced by nationalist sentiments sweeping across Europe and the Ottoman Empire. Early Turkist thinkers sought to create a distinct Turkic identity separate from religious or imperial affiliations.

The core tenets of Turkism often include the promotion of Turkic languages, the study and dissemination of Turkic history and culture, and sometimes the aspiration for closer political cooperation or even unification among Turkic states and peoples. The scope of what constitutes a "Turkic people" can vary among different Turkist ideologies, sometimes encompassing a wider range of groups than strictly defined linguistic families might suggest. These movements have had varying degrees of influence in different Turkic-speaking regions throughout history, including in the Ottoman Empire, early Soviet Union, and the post-Soviet Turkic republics. Contemporary manifestations of Turkism continue to be discussed in the context of regional politics and cultural identity.