Customer Reviews

The Top Hat, the Grey Wolf, and the Crescent: Turkish Nationalism and the Turkish Republic

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This book does a good job of outlining some of the major trends within Turkish nationalism, which Poulton identifies as state-centered secularism (Kemalism), militant, racist nationalism, and Islamism. Poulton is a critical writer and he spends considerable time on the threats to the Kemalist status-quo. This has its advantages in giving the reader a sense of some of the fault-lines within Turkish society. At the same time, Poulton overstates his case and his portrayal underplays the extent to which the nationalist project in Turkey has been successful. The weakest part of his discussion is his treatment of theories of nationalism... his coverage is shallow and his (mis)use of jargon weakens an otherwise useful book.

For general readers, this book may be a bit too scholarly. A better written alternative which covers some of the same themes is Hugh and Nicole Pope's Turkey Unveiled. For those looking for a general academic history of Turkey (as opposed to an analysis of Turkish nationalism), try Zurcher's Turkey: A Modern History.

Appearence falsifies us easily. This is true for M.Kemal Ataturk and the Turkish Republic which is founded on his principles. Contrary to common beliefs, almost nothing has changed in Anatolia in the last century. This book tells all. This book is like one of the secret books of Aristoteles that had been hidden from eyes in the Medieval times to prevent the collapse of the Christendom. Similarly this book has lots of facts that are criticizing the fundamentals of the Turkish Republic. Like what? The books tells how other languages were suppressed by Ataturk in Anatolia. The book tells how Ataturk and other prominent leaders enjoyed chovenist ideas. The book tells how the leaders of the country tried to bargain with Hitler to gain territories in the East. The book tells how the minorities have been oppressed. When you read it you will realize that nothing has changed with the Turkish Republic in Anatolia. The revolutions that were brought up were superficial and some of them were oppressive tough. The book tells all with plenty of solid evidence from governmental telegrams, newspapers, the leaders' own speeches etc. This book has a potential to pull away the curtain on your eyes. All you have to do is read.