Türkist

Türkist (Turkist) refers to a supporter of Turkism, a nationalist ideology in the late Ottoman Empire and the early Turkish Republic that treats Turkish language, culture, and ethnicity as the core basis of national identity. Turkists argued that a unified Turkish identity was essential for political modernization and national unity, and they emphasized the Turkish language as a unifying element in administration, education, and public life. The term is used in Turkish and international scholarship to describe adherents of this strand of nationalism.

Origins and scope: Turkism emerged in the 19th century among reform-minded intellectuals reacting to imperial decline and evolving ethnic and cultural loyalties within the empire. It developed alongside debates about Ottomanism and Islam and, in some cases, overlapped with ideas about broader Pan-Turkic or Turanist unity among Turkic-speaking peoples. Unlike broader civic nationalism, Turkists often stressed ethnic and linguistic foundations of the nation, though there was variation in emphasis and rhetoric over time.

Historical development: In the late Ottoman period, Turkists were influential in intellectual and political circles and contributed to the early Turkish national awakening. During the founding years of the Turkish Republic, some Turkist themes continued to shape policy and education, particularly in promoting the Turkish language and a centralized, coherent national narrative, though the republic also incorporated secular and civic principles.

Legacy and critique: The Turkist current is a historical term describing a strand of Turkish nationalism. It has been criticized for endorsing ethnic homogenization and for its treatment of minority groups; defenders argue it aimed to modernize and consolidate a multiethnic empire or state around a common Turkish identity.

See also: Turkism, Turanism, Pan-Turkism, Turkish nationalism.