Claims Related to the Unionist Polity of Turkification and Contradictions in History Writing

Abstract

Whether the unionists were Ottomanists or Turkists is a matter of debate. Although the unionists claimed that they were following the polity of Ottomanism some reseaechers maintain that the polity of Ottomanism that was followed had infact the same meaning with Turkism. In relation with proving these claims there are some contradictions about history writing. Among the unionists there were people who advocated various ideas. There were also ones who advocated Turkist views. One of these people, Ziya Gokalp functioned as the central common member of the party. But his position was limited with the youth organisation and he was not chosen as a decision maker. Union and Progress accepted everyone from all sides to the party. But it never changed its line which it accepted as Ottomanism and Islamism.