The Concept of Ideology and the Struggle between Capitalism and Communism in Sezai Karakoç’s Political Thought

Abstract

Considering the political culture of the 20th century, it can be said that one of the essential elements shaping political mentality and activities is the concept of ideology. Especially after the Second World War, the world system was shaped around capitalism and communism, the dominant ideologies of the period. This situation has been determinant in political processes and international relations in this period, known as the Cold War period, and it has also brought intellectuals to produce ideas by being influenced by the concept of ideology. In this direction, it is important to examine the world of thought of Sezai Karakoç -one of the most influential intellectuals of Turkey and influenced Turkish thought with his literary and intellectual writings- in the context of ideology during the Cold War period. In this context, it is aimed to examine themes such as the concept of ideology, the characteristics of capitalism and communism, and the struggle between them in Sezai Karakoç’s works other than poetry. The method of discourse analysis was used in the study, and the result was that Sezai Karakoç’s world of thought was significantly influenced by the political and intellectual context of the Cold War period, and the concept of ideology and the idea of a struggle between ideologies had a decisive effect on his mentality. It has become clear that Karakoç’s works are one of the most important examples of intellectual pursuits and struggles that directly reflect the context of Islamist thought in Turkey during the Cold War period.