Rethinking Modernity and National Identity in Turkey (Publications on the Near East, University of Washington)

The book's highlight is undoubtedly an unassuming 12-page essay, "The Quest for the Islamic Self within the Context of Modernity," by Nilüfer Göle, an associate professor of sociology at Boaziçi University in Istanbul. Göle establishes the enormous cultural chasm between the Atatürkists' Westernizing ideals and what had come before, then shows how today's Islamists are trying "to maintain an identity separate from that of the dominant West." In other words, rather than see Islamists as products of failed economies, she shows the acutely important cultural dimension of their effort. To illustrate these points, she looks in more depth at the question of the body, especially the female body, and contrasts the Western notions of care and exposure with the thoroughly different Islamic concepts. Göle concludes by noting the paradox of Islamic pop music and fashion shows-two signs indicating the ubiquity of Western modernity.

All this should be self-evident, but it is not; most analysts of Islam pay too little attention to culture in their fascination with material well-being. Göle has succinctly shown why they are wrong.

Middle East Quarterly, December 1997


Rethinking through an edited volume   April 10, 2001
 1 out of 3 found this review helpful

This book overall is a strong edited volume. Especially the pieces concerning identity and identity formation have new and interesting vantage points. It is a new perspective that helps the reader to understand and rethink their "image" about Turkey. For those interested in Middle East, in Turkey and generally in modernity this book will be of great value.