- Niyazi Berkes
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Niyazi Berkes (21 October 1908[1] – 18 December 1988[2]) was a Turkish Cypriot sociologist.
Niyazi Berkes Born 21 October 1908
Nicosia, Cyprus[1]Died 18 December 1988 (aged 80)
Hythe[3], EnglandOccupation Sociologist Nationality Turkish Cypriot Education Istanbul Erkek Lisesi (Istanbul Lycée, or Istanbul Boys’ High School)[2], Istanbul University Notable work(s) The Development of Secularism in the Turkish Revolution, Turkey’s Coming of Age Spouse(s) Mediha Hanım[4] Contents
Biography
Berkes was born in Nicosia[3] on 21 October 1908. He started his secondary education in Cyprus, Nicosia. During his education, he later, went to Istanbul and graduated from Istanbul Erkek Lisesi (Istanbul Lycée, or Istanbul Boys’ High School ) in 1928.[2] In 1931, Berkes graduated from the Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Literature of Istanbul University.[2] In 1935, he then became an assistant at the same faculty.[2][1] In the same year, he had gone to United States and he had studied on sociology at the University of Chicago[4] until 1939. In 1939 he returned to Turkey and as an associate professor of sociology he attended to the Faculty of Languages, History and Geography of Ankara University[1] which had just opened a Philosophy Department.[5] He had worked there until 1945. In 1952, he was appointed visiting professor[6] at the Institute of Islamic Studies,[1] the McGill University in Canada. In 1956, he became professor in the same university.[2] He retired from McGill in 1975 and settled in England.[2][3] Berkes wrote no more books after his retirement but continued to write for the Turkish press.[7] He died on 18 December 1988 in Hythe[3] in England. He is known with his studies which are related with the historical and social evolution of Turkey. Beside some studies which reflect his views and ideas on theoretical sociology, he also did some research on the transitions of Turkey from Ottoman era.[2]
Works
- In 1943, he wrote his first essay on “the Development of Secularism in the Turkish Revolution” which has been seen as his magnum opus by outside Turkey.
- His first book was “Why have we been stumbling along the road to modernization for two hundred years?” written in 1964 and was followed by “Westernization, Nationalism and Social Revolution”.
- In 1969, “Islamism, Nationalism, Socialism” , “Islamism, Nationalism and Socialism in the Arab world”, “Economic History of Turkey” (two volumes) were published.
- In 1973, “The Western Question in Turkish Thought” was published.
- In 1974, “Turkey’s Coming of Age” was published.
- In 1976, “Asian Letters” was published.
- His articles and essays were collected and published in three volumes: Atatürk and Revolution in 1982, Theocracy and Secularism in 1984 and Philosophical and Social Essays in 1985.
References
- ^ a b c d e İletişim Publishing. “The biography of Niyazi Berkes” . Retrieved 9 November 2011 (In Turkish)
- ^ a b c d e f g h Berkes, Türkiye’de Çağdaşlaşma, p.1.
- ^ a b c d Berkes, Feroz, The Development of Secularism in Turkey, p.XV.
- ^ a b Berkes, Feroz, The Development of Secularism in Turkey, p.XX.
- ^ Berkes, Feroz, The Development of Secularism in Turkey, p.XXIII.
- ^ Berkes, Feroz, The Development of Secularism in Turkey, p.XVI.
- ^ Berkes, Feroz, The Development of Secularism in Turkey, p.XXX.
Bibliography
- Berkes Niyazi, Ahmad Feroz (1998). The Development of Secularism in Turkey. London: McGill University Press ISBN 1-85065-344-5
- Berkes, Niyazi (2007). Türkiye’de Çağdaşlaşma. Istanbul: Yapı Kredi Publishing ISBN 978-975-08-0434-1
External links
Categories:- Turkish Cypriot people
- Cypriot people
- Sociologists
- Cypriot academics
- Turkish scientists
- Turkish academics
- People from Nicosia
- 1908 births
- 1988 deaths
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