Paradigm Shifts in the Literature on Turkish Nationalism: The Emergence of the Agency

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This article aims to shed light on the paradigm shifts in the academic studies on Turkish nationalism from the 1950s to the present by examining the approaches of these studies to the concept of Turkishness and Turkish nationalism. This study first examines various nationalism theories and current debates in the field, as the transformation in Turkish nationalism parallels theoretical discussions in nationalism studies. It then focuses early studies until the 1990s analyzing Turkish nationalism through modernization theory, and post-1990s research highlighting its hybrid, eclectic, and pervasive nature, alongside its connections to diverse political visions and previously overlooked aspects. Finally, the article centers on pioneering studies that emphasize the active role of subjectivity in the construction and reproduction of the nation by tracing Turkish nationalism in everyday life. The recent studies on Turkish nationalism highlight the positioning of the individual not as a passive recipient of nationalism, but as an active agent in its making.