Modernization Efforts within the Scope of the Republic Project in Türkiye: The Example of the Novel of the Time Regulation Institute

Abstract

The transformations that unfolded across the globe during the 20th century, underpinned by the ethos of modernism, wrought profound changes in the fabric of societies and human existence. In Türkiye, the trajectory of modernization, initiated during the Tanzimat and constitutional monarchy eras, persisted into the republican era. However, the imposition of modernism from the top down, in a milieu where a bourgeoisie failed to merge fully, engendered various challenges. Notably, thinkers like Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar harbored apprehensions about Türkiye’s future within its Westernization endeavor during the Republican era. Tanpınar’s novel The Time Regulation Institute (1954) vividly captures the trials and tribulations of Türkiye's modernization efforts, particularly amidst the emergence of systemic issues such as the adjuster system. Serving as a literary lens into the transition from constitutionalism to republicanism, from tradition to modernity, the novel paints a rich tableau of Turkish societal metamorphosis. This study explores The Time Regulation Institute, employing qualitative semantic content analysis to dissect its thematic underpinnings. Through delineating various categories, the transition from traditional to modern life is meticulously scrutinized in the tapestry of words and expressions throughout the novel. Central to the narrative is the portrayal of a meticulously ordered system orchestrated by the titular institute, presided over by an adjuster. Yet, the novel poignantly underscores the challenge faced by the Turkish populace in embracing this paradigm shift as the traditional, natural, and static conception of time grapples with the imposition of modernity.