Discourse Of Nationalization And Modernization In The Early Republican Period: A Study On The Journal Muhit (1928–1933)

Abstract

Muhit magazine, one of the significant periodicals of the Early Republican era, stands out as an effective medium through which the nationalization policies implemented in the first years of the Republic were conveyed to society via the popular press. First published between 1928 and 1933 under the title Illustrated Monthly Family Magazine, the journal gradually acquired the characteristics of a prominent intellectual periodical by producing content on national language, national history, national education, literature, culture, millitary affairs, technology, and aviation in the later stages of its publication life. The articles published in Muhit were shaped by the ideas that came to the fore during the nation-state building process of the Early Republic and adopted a stance supportive of Republican reforms. In particular, writings on national language and history presented the Alphabet Reform and language policies within a framework of historical continuity, aiming at the reconstruction of national identity. Themes of millitary service, heroism, and sacrifice, addressed through education, literature, theatre, and poetry, were used as motivational tools to strengthen national sentiments and reinforce a sense of social unity. In addition, articles on aviation, technology, and female pilots emphasized the impact of modernization across all segments of society, drawing attention to women’s visibility in public life and their roles in the transformation process.

In this study, the issues of Muhit magazine published between 1928 and 1933 were examined within the framework of qualitative research methods. The issues of the magazine from the relevant period were used as primary sources and analyzed. The data obtained as a result of the examinations were evaluated through thematic content analysis, revealing the intellectual world and cultural orientations of the period within the framework of the magazine’s national discourse. The aim of the study is to examine how Muhit magazine reflected the nationalization efforts undertaken during the early Republican period and to evaluate the magazine’s articles related to these efforts. In particular, the journal’s role in the social and cultural transformation of the period is examined in the context of topics such as the national language, national historical consciousness, and national economy, which were written about in the journal. This study also aims to reveal the journal’s role in sharing the state’s innovation movements with the public and in supporting these innovations.