THE SOCIOLOGICAL TEACHING OF THE NATION CONCEPT IN THE FIRST YEARS OF THE REPUBLIC: MEHMET İZZET-NECMETTİN SADAK

Abstract

In this study, the sociological teaching of the nation concept in the first years of the Turkish Republic has been addressed. For that purpose, first of all, the book İçtimaiyat (Sociology) written by Mehmet İzzet and on a large scale written as to be complied with the 1924 Sociology Curriculum, and then the book Toplumbilim (Sociology) written by Necmettin Sadak and written as to be complied with 1935 Sociology Curriculum have been reviewed. While constitutions, values, and institutions belong to the Ottoman have been criticized and insulted; studies, innovations, regulations belong to the Republic have been acclaimed and praised in these books which have been compared Turkey in the Ottoman Period and Turkey in the Republic Period almost in all topics considered. In this context; topics such as definition of the nation, necessary elements to be a nation, the effects of the race and geography when give birth to the nations have been mentioned in order to enlighten the nation concept from various aspects in both books. However, it is seen that the nation concept has been transferred with ideological attitudes rather than being sociologic in both books.