A panel titled “Commemorating and Understanding Ziya Gökalp on the 100th Anniversary of His Death” was held, hosted by the Political Science and Public Administration and International Relations departments of Istanbul Rumeli University’s Faculty of Economic, Administrative and Social Sciences, in collaboration with civil society organizations TASAV, ILESAM, and GLADER.
The panel was attended by Board Member Sadun Yavuz, our Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kara, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ömer Çetin, Dean of the Faculty of Economic, Administrative and Social Sciences Prof. Dr. Ahmet Mucip Gökçen, and leaders from civil society organizations.
For the opening speeches, Dr. Zeki Anıt from the Political Science and Public Administration Department was the first to take the stage, followed by our Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kara. Kara expressed that Ziya Gökalp was a thinker and scholar who made significant contributions to the formation of the Turkish language and identity. Anıt highlighted Gökalp's contributions to the Republic of Turkey.
The panel, “Commemorating and Understanding Great Thinker Ziya Gökalp on the 100th Anniversary of His Death,” was conducted over three sessions with participating academics from across Turkey.
In the first session, chaired by Prof. Dr. Ahmet Mucip Gökçen, Dean of the Faculty of Economic, Administrative and Social Sciences at Istanbul Rumeli University, a presentation was made on “Ziya Gökalp, Ziyaeddin F. Fındıkoğlu, and Hilmi Z. Ülken’s Contributions to the Nation-Building Process of Turkish Society.” Prof. Dr. Nevin Güngör Ergan, a retired faculty member from Hacettepe University, detailed the contributions of these three important thinkers in the nation-building process of Turkish society.
The second session, chaired by Prof. Dr. Edibe Sözen, Rector of Maltepe University, featured three distinguished panelists. First, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Talas from Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University’s Faculty of Educational Sciences addressed “Ziya Gökalp's Perspectives on Intellectuals and Turkish Intellectuals.” Then, Prof. Dr. Yahya Mustafa Keskin from Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University discussed “Ziya Gökalp’s Understanding of Religion,” exploring the essence and impact of Gökalp's views on religion. Lastly, Dr. Zeki Anıt from Istanbul Rumeli University’s Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences presented on “Ziya Gökalp’s Role and Importance in Turkey’s Introduction to Sociology,” evaluating Gökalp’s contributions to the development of sociology.
The final session was chaired by Assoc. Dr. Süleyman Özmen, Director of RUPAM at Istanbul Rumeli University, and featured three key panelists. Prof. Dr. Kutluk Kağan Sümer from Istanbul University’s Faculty of Economics presented on “Ziya Gökalp's Economic Thoughts and Their Impact on the Turkish World,” discussing Gökalp's economic perspective and its reflections in the Turkish world. Following this, Prof. Dr. Ömer Kul from Istanbul University’s Institute of Turkish Studies spoke on “The Reflection of Ziya Gökalp’s Turan Ideal in Contemporary Times,” addressing the significance and effects of Gökalp’s Turan ideal today. Finally, Dr. Hasan Bozkurt Çelik from Gümüşhane University’s Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences discussed “National Identity and Nationalism in Ziya Gökalp’s Thought World.”
Following the general assessment and closing speech by the Panel Organizing Committee Chair Prof. Dr. Ömer Çetin, plaques and certificates of appreciation were presented to all contributors.
On the 100th anniversary of his death, we commemorate Ziya Gökalp, one of the leading figures in Turkish intellectual life, the architect of national consciousness, with deep respect and gratitude.
