Turkey: A Modern History

By Erik-Jan Zürcher and Erik J. Z]rcher

Book Overview

Building upon and updating its twin themes, this revised edition of "Turkey: a Modern History" focuses on Turkey's continuing incorporation into the capitalist world and the modernization of state and society. It begins with the forging of closer links with Europe after the French Revolution and the changing face of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century. Zurcher argues that Turkey's history, between 1908 and 1950, should be seen as a unity, and offers a strongly revisionist interpretation of Turkey's founding father, Kemal Ataturk. In his account of the period since 1950, Zurcher focuses on: the growth of mass politics; the three military coups; the thorny issue of Turkey's human rights record; integration into the global economy; the alliance with the West and and relations with the European community; Turkey's ambivalent relations with the Middle East; the increasingly explosive Kurdish questions; the economic crisis of 1994; and the continuing political instability and growth of Islam.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1860649580
• ISBN13: 9781860649585
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: I. B. Tauris & Company
• Length: 418 Pages
• Weight: 1.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.2" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

The best MODERN history of Turkey

This is the probably the best history of Turkey in the modern period now available in English. Zurcher makes the point that his is a MODERN history of Turkey, rather than just a history of modern Turkey. The distinction is important, as he utilizes a wealth of recent resarch to flesh out the fairly one-dimensional and celebratory approach of many earlier Western writers dealing with Turkey, such as Bernard Lewis. Zurcher deals objectively with topics, such as social and ethnic problems, that are often neglected by some other writers.The book emphatically does not display anti-Turkish bias, as suggested by Mr. Pipes in his review below; the Armenian genocide may indeed be an "incendiary" topic in Turkey, but its reality is accepted by serious historians throughout the world, and to conclude that it was ordered by the government in power at the time is hardly controversial except among Turkish-nationalist circles and those who seek to curry favor with them. All in all, an excellent account, by a master of the field.

Turkey

It tells everything you want to learn about Turkey... And i am sure when you read it you will admire Ataturk ,founder of Turkey, like Che Guera or Martin Luther King.

A good overview, but a bit detailed for the general reader

I knew absolutely nothing about Turkey when I picked up this book, which I bought in preparation for a trip to Turkey next month. I found that the author, unlike some academics, writes limpid, readable prose. He does dwell in considerable detail on the political jousting that takes place inside the government; it seems that there have always been competing factions within the power structure in Turkey, and they appear at times to have changed position from week to week. I therefore found myself skimming through parts of this book. I wish he'd focused a bit more on cultural history, as this was the bit I found most interesting. Still, all in all, a good read for what is essentially a textbook. I've started "Turkey Unveiled" by Hugh and Nicole Pope, two journalists who are clearly aiming for a more popular treatment of the subject matter, and I can tell that my having read Professor Zurcher's book will make their book much more interesting.