Turkification Islamisation and Modernisation in the Thought of Ziya Gökalp

This article examines the political philosophy of Ziya Gökalp (1876–1924), focusing primarily on his work Türkleşmek, İslamlaşmak, Muasırlaşmak (1918). Gökalp’s triadic framework of Turkification, Islamisation, and Modernisation is analysed as a potentially cohesive strategy for forging a modern Turkish identity. The study clarifies these concepts, emphasising their instrumental and contextual application, with Turkification as the ultimate goal and Islam and modernisation as complementary means. Prevailing interpretations often misrepresent Gökalp by conflating his early and later works or overlooking their historical context. This article challenges such views, arguing that Gökalp’s framing of Islam as a sociopolitical tool rather than strictly theological reconciles perceived tensions between secularism and religion. It also critiques Gökalp’s modernisation thesis, noting its pragmatism but highlighting its lack of specificity regarding institutional and technological reform. By positioning Gökalp as a tactician rather than a grand theorist, the article reemphasises his practical approach to achieving ‘Turkishness’ amidst the complexities of nationalism, religion, and modernity. This study contributes to Gökalp scholarship by revisiting his early works and advocating for context-driven analyses of Ottoman political thought, offering insights into enduring tensions within Turkish socio-political identity.