|
|
Disciplines
Ottoman, and to a much smaller extent, Pre-Ottoman Anatolian history is the prime concern of departments of history. Contemporary Turkish history is often narrowed down to a treatment of the foundation years of the Turkish Republic in a state centred mind close to the ideological assumptions of the Ministry of National Education (which is not directly involved in higher education). This period of Turkish history is taught also at historical departments, but the topic is regarded important enough to be part of the compulsory education of every student receiving higher education in the country. For this reason, institutes of revolutionary history or “of Atatürk’s Principles and Revolutions” have been established. A few of these institutes, such as the “Atatürk Institute for Modern Turkish History” established by Bogaziçi University, actively pursue the reintegration of twentieth century Turkish history in the framework of contemporary history and are working on an inter-disciplinary basis.
Otherwise, scholarship on contemporary and recent Turkish society and state is concentrated in departments of sociology and of political sciences. At a number of universities, separate departments of international relations also exist and often concentrate on matters Turkish, as well.
Only very few scholars in Turkey are interested in the history and societies of the Arab World whereas research in the realm of Iranian and Indian Islam is virtually non-existent. Studies in Central Asia, which have a strong tradition in mid-twentieth century Turkish scholarship, continue at a number of universities, often seriously handicapped by the fact that instruction in Russian and Chinese has not been given the adequate weight. Kurdish studies have not yet found their place in Turkish universities.
The criterion of belonging to Turkey’s own culture is likewise shaping the form of academic organization disciplines concerned with the intellectual heritage and life of Islamite societies experience. There are numerous and big departments of Turkish language and literature, and the interest in Ottoman and Turkish arts is vital for most of the departments of history of art. Most of the linguists are working on the Turkish language of contemporary Turkey whereas studies in literature embrace Anatolian Turkish literature from its beginning to the first half of the twentieth century. Research and teaching of popular and contemporary literature, Turkish languages and literatures outside Turkey, while being well established, enjoy only secondary interest. In contrast, departments or chairs concerned with Arab or Persian history, language and literature are as exotic in the Turkish academic world as they are in the EU or USA.
At least Arabic, however, is taught on a broad scale, if in the framework of the faculties of divinity. These faculties are also the academic home of most academicians concerned with Arab history, literature and culture. In recent years, some of the more conservative scholarship on Turkish history and literature has also been integrated in these faculties.
As the faculties of divinity are educating the staff of the Directorate of Religious Affairs, a Sunnite and even Hanefite orientation in teaching and research is clearly visible. This also applies to most of the growing number of students of Islamic mysticism. Treatment of Shiite or Alevite Islam is marginal at best, along with that in the non-Islamic religions of the area.
 Islamic Studies
Disciplines
Universities
Research Institutes and Foundations
|
 |
|
