MARXIAN THEORY AND SOCIALISM IN TURKEY

The book deals with the Marxian Theory as a whole
and socialist theory in Turkey, following the
example of the Socialist Journal Ayd nl k. It
demonstrates that there is a gap between the
premises of the Marxian theory and the socialist
theorising and practice in Turkey. This gap is
partially perceived and tried to be surpassed by
strategic searchs for a revolutonary change.
However, these searches too suffer from another gap
between the Kemalist experience of the country and
the Marxist theory. As a solution, socialist theory
and practice develops different variants of Maoist
revolutonary strategies in the form of popular
revolution. Main debates within the socialist
circles therefore concentrate on choosing and
defending the most valid revolutonary strategies,
each of which is based on different theorisings of
the social and historical structures of Turkey and
the Ottoman Empire. In order to justify the
preferred revolutonary strategy, adherents of each
socialist line and sect demonstrate his or her
historical and social data by using Marxian and
Leninist texts. The book follows the debates on the
behalf of the Marxian theory itself.

Autorentext

Ercan Gundogan studied spatial planning, urban politics, political science and public administration at METU, Ankara. Scope of his research areas covers social and political theory, political economy, world politics and the theory of socialism. He is a professor of international relations and a contributer to Afrika newspaper in Cyprus.

Klappentext

The book deals with the Marxian Theory as a whole and socialist theory in Turkey, following the example of the Socialist Journal Aydinlik. It demonstrates that there is a gap between the premises of the Marxian theory and the socialist theorising and practice in Turkey. This gap is partially perceived and tried to be surpassed by strategic searchs for a revolutonary change. However, these searches too suffer from another gap between the Kemalist experience of the country and the Marxist theory. As a solution, socialist theory and practice develops different variants of Maoist revolutonary strategies in the form of popular revolution. Main debates within the socialist circles therefore concentrate on choosing and defending the most valid revolutonary strategies, each of which is based on different theorisings of the social and historical structures of Turkey and the Ottoman Empire. In order to justify the preferred revolutonary strategy, adherents of each socialist line and sect demonstrate his or her historical and social data by using Marxian and Leninist texts. The book follows the debates on the behalf of the Marxian theory itself.