مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Turkish Modernization, Positivism and Sociology

Abstract :

This article will mainly focus on the main features of the modernization process of the Ottoman-Turkish society and what role is played by sociology which is shaped by positivism and positivist influence. Positivist thought, which has been a concept of society and politics, a world-view and a model mentality during the modernization process of the Ottoman-Turkish society, has determined the background of the social and political projects developed by almost all actors of this process from the start. During the Republican era of Turkey, positivist sociology has formed an important source for modernization and served as a basis for a significant part of the founding elements of the official ideology during the establishment of the modern nation-state. In this respect, official sociology in Turkey has always had political contents, served a political function and has mostly been envisaged as a means of production for the ideology of the state. This article, in view of the themes stated above, shall end with an assessment in which Turkish modernization, the relationship between positivism and sociology will be generally discussed.