The opening of the “Contemporization: Turkish Modernization in Light of Global Comparisons and Alternative Searches International Symposium” organized by Üsküdar University Center for Strategic Research and Application (ÜSSAM) under the auspices of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, was held with the participation of Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş.
Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş: “Turkish modernization should be an original path, not an imitation”
Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, who delivered the opening speech of the symposium, which discussed Turkish modernization with an interdisciplinary approach addressing its historical, political, social, cultural, and intellectual dimensions, stated that the issue of modernization is one of the most important discussion areas not only of the past but also of the present and future.
Kurtulmuş emphasized that Türkiye's modernization process carries a unique character, different from the experiences of other societies, and said, “No nation can survive by imitating another nation. We do not see modernization as a journey of imitation.”
“Modernization has transformed into an interdisciplinary field of study”
Kurtulmuş stated that the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye is not only a law-making institution, but also holds important meetings that contribute to intellectual life through collaborations with universities.
Reminding that they had previously organized a symposium on the 'Jadidism Movement', Kurtulmuş stated that this meeting aimed to address Turkish modernization from different perspectives.
Announcing that another new international symposium on the idea of Islamism in Türkiye will be organized soon, Kurtulmuş said:
“Modernization debates have now transformed into an interdisciplinary field of study. Intensive academic work is being carried out in Türkiye on this issue. Two major developments that affected the world at the beginning of the 20th century shaped the modernization debates. The first of these was the great breakthrough of the West in science and technology, and the second was the dissolution process of Eastern empires, including the Ottoman Empire.
Societies outside the West sometimes approach modernization with anxiety and reservations. Just as Turkish modernization is different, Japan's Meiji Restoration, Russia's transformation, and China's modernization story are also different from each other. However, they all focused on a common question: 'How will we create our own answer to this development?'”
“Modernization, contemporization, and Westernization are not the same thing”
In his speech, Kurtulmuş drew attention to the importance of using concepts correctly and said that modernization, contemporization, and Westernization should not be confused.
Kurtulmuş stated that seeing the West only as a target to be imitated would alienate societies from their roots, and said, “Türkiye has the national experience to achieve a new breakthrough with its own historical accumulation. Today, the international system built on modern values is experiencing a serious crisis. Fundamental concepts such as human rights, international law, and the sovereign equality of states are being re-discussed. The existing global order is no longer able to produce solutions to today's problems. The institutions, rules, and even terminology of the international system built on modern values have failed. It is no longer possible to explain the problems in the world with old concepts.”
“Democracy is one of the most important areas of modernization”
Kurtulmuş stated that one of the most important topics of Turkish modernization is democracy, and said that Türkiye 's struggle for democracy has progressed with great sacrifices.
Kurtulmuş stated that despite coups, political interventions, and anti-democratic practices, society has shown its will towards democracy, and said, “We will protect democracy like the apple of our eye.”
“Our state tradition is human-centered”
Kurtulmuş stated that the Turkish state tradition is based on a human-centered understanding and concluded his speech with the following remarks:
“The foundation of our state understanding is the principle 'Let people live so that the state may live'. We act with the understanding of 'eternal state'. At the same time, with the idea of 'order of the world', we consider it our duty to speak not only for ourselves but for the peace of all humanity.”
Kurtulmuş stated that he believes the ideas presented at the symposium will contribute to academic studies and thanked those who contributed to the organization.
Prof. Deniz Ülke Kaynak: “The psychological dimension of modernization should also be discussed”
Üsküdar University Rector's Advisor, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof. Deniz Ülke Kaynak, in her speech, said that the founding process of the Republic of Türkiye should be examined not only with its political dimensions but also with its psychological and social aspects.
Referring to the psychohistory studies they carried out with the Head of the History Department, Kaynak said, “We particularly examined the effects of the collapse process of the Ottoman Empire on society. In the book titled 'From Trauma to Victory', we addressed the national identity process built on the War of Independence and the narrative of victory, instead of the trauma of the Ottoman collapse. The national identity of the Republic of Türkiye was undoubtedly built as a victory identity, and this is a strategic choice.”
“Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is the bridge of the transition process”
Kaynak stated that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founding leader of the Republic, played an important bridge role in the transition from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic, and said, “Since the transformation of the founding cadres did not occur at the same speed throughout society, the modernization process needs to be evaluated in different dimensions.”
Kaynak stated that the great losses experienced by societies naturally lead to a mourning process, and conveyed that some academics evaluate the identity and belonging discussions in Türkiye through an 'incomplete mourning process'.
“Modernization is not just about technology or clothing change”
Referring to the long-standing debate on whether modernization merely means imitating the West, Kaynak drew attention to the importance of the following questions:
“Is the modernization of a society only about its clothing, technology, and education system; or is it a transformation that needs to be addressed together with its values, mentality, and culture?”
Emphasizing that the concepts of modernization and modernizing should also be separated, Kaynak stated that it should be discussed whether this process arose from top-down coercion or from societal needs.
Addressing the youth, Kaynak said, “You cannot build a good future without thoroughly learning your past,” emphasizing the importance of students understanding historical and intellectual processes.
Prof. Havva Kök Arslan: “Turkish modernization is a dynamic field of experience”
Üsküdar University Center for Strategic Research and Application Director Prof. Havva Kök Arslan, in her speech, said that Turkish modernization should be re-evaluated not only in its historical aspects but also in its current and future-oriented directions.
Arslan stated that the issue of Turkish modernization is one of the fundamental questions that every generation asks anew, and said, “The symposium is not only an academic meeting, but also provides a platform for evaluating common historical memory and responsibilities for the future. Turkish modernization is not a linear progression; it is a dynamic field of experience where continuities, ruptures, and reconstruction processes are intertwined. We do not see these intellectual approaches as mutually exclusive ideological patterns; we evaluate them as evolving and interacting currents of thought throughout history.”
“Modernization is not merely institutional transformation”
Emphasizing that modernization is not merely about technical progress or institutional reforms, Arslan said:
“Türkiye's modernization experience is a multi-layered transformation process ranging from education to law, from economy to art. This process is also a transformation of mentality and identity where society redefines itself. Turkish modernization progresses parallel to the rise of the West but also produces its own unique tensions and searches.
Today, modernization debates can no longer be reduced to a single-centered model. Modernization is not merely technical progress; it is a constant search for balance between tradition and modernity, local and universal.”
“The real issue is to remain ourselves while changing”
Arslan stated that the main goal of the symposium is to re-evaluate Türkiye's modernization experience in light of global comparisons, and said that by bringing together academics from different disciplines, they aim to create not only an academic but also a social discussion platform.
Arslan said, “The issue is not only how we will modernize, but how we can remain ourselves while changing.”
“It constitutes the second leg of a three-year intellectual program”
Reminding that the first symposium held last year addressed the issues of the Jadidism movement, Turkism, and Turkification, Arslan stated that this year's meeting focused on “contemporization”, that is, the topic of modernization.
She announced that the third symposium to be held next year will discuss the relationships between religion, society, and politics under the title of “Islamization”.
At the symposium, attended by world-renowned sociologist Nilüfer Göle, SOAS University of London Honorary Professor William Hale, and numerous academics, researchers, and thinkers from Türkiye and around the world, modernization experiences were discussed in light of global comparisons.
