Who Are the Turks?
The Turks (Turkish people) are a Turkic nation numbering approximately 80-85 million—primarily in Turkey (72 million), with significant diaspora in Germany (3 million), France, Netherlands, and other European countries. They speak Turkish, an Oghuz Turkic language related to Azerbaijani and Turkmen, written in Latin script since Atatürk's alphabet reform (1928). Modern Turkish identity fuses Central Asian Turkic origins with Anatolian indigenous populations (Greek, Armenian, Kurdish, others) absorbed over centuries. Turks created the Ottoman Empire (1299-1922), one of history's longest-lasting empires, and the modern Turkish Republic, positioned uniquely between Europe and Asia.
From Steppe to Empire
Turkic peoples originated in Central Asia; the Seljuk Turks defeated Byzantines at Manzikert (1071), opening Anatolia to Turkic migration. The Ottoman Empire emerged (1299), capturing Constantinople (1453) and creating a multiethnic empire spanning three continents—from Hungary to Yemen, Algeria to Iraq. The Ottoman millet system organized populations by religion; Turks were Muslim elite alongside Greeks, Armenians, Jews, Arabs. "Turk" originally meant rural Anatolian Muslim; Ottoman elite identified as Ottomans. Modern Turkish ethnic identity emerged from empire's collapse, nationalist ideology, and population exchanges that homogenized Anatolia.
Kemalist Revolution
WWI defeat and occupation sparked independence war led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who founded the Turkish Republic (1923). Kemalism revolutionized society: abolishing caliphate, secularizing law, emancipating women (suffrage 1934), adopting Latin alphabet, and promoting Turkish ethnic nationalism over Ottoman imperial identity. Greek-Turkish population exchange (1923) removed most Christians. The result was a secular, nationalist, modernizing state—unique in the Muslim world. Atatürk's image and ideology remain foundational; questioning Kemalism was long taboo. This radical transformation created modern Turkish identity, though debates continue over its costs and limits.
Contemporary Turkey
Modern Turkey is NATO member, EU candidate (stalled), and regional power with the world's 18th-largest economy. Yet deep divisions persist: secular vs. religious (the AKP's Islamic-rooted governance since 2003), Turkish vs. Kurdish identity (15+ million Kurds, ongoing conflict), and democratic vs. authoritarian tendencies. President Erdoğan has centralized power, restricted press freedom, and embraced Islamic identity politics. The 2016 coup attempt led to mass purges. Economic crisis, inflation, and refugee pressures (4 million Syrians) create instability. Turkey's strategic position—controlling Bosphorus, bordering Syria, Iraq, Iran—ensures its trajectory matters globally.
Turkish Culture
Turkish culture blends Central Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean influences. Cuisine—kebabs, meze, baklava, Turkish coffee—is globally beloved. Ottoman architecture (mosques, palaces, baths) and arts (calligraphy, ceramics, carpets) represent cultural peaks. Music ranges from classical Ottoman to arabesk to contemporary pop. Turkish television dramas achieve regional popularity. Hospitality (misafirperverlik) is cultural value. Secular urban culture coexists with religious conservatism; Istanbul exemplifies both. The diaspora maintains identity while integrating into European societies. How Turkey balances its multiple identities—Western and Eastern, secular and religious, democratic and authoritarian—defines its future.
References
- ZĂĽrcher, E. J. (2004). Turkey: A Modern History
- Finkel, C. (2005). Osman's Dream: The History of the Ottoman Empire
- Mango, A. (2000). AtatĂĽrk: The Biography of the Founder of Modern Turkey