Abstract

Regarded as the founder of Sociology in Turkey, Ziya Gökalp's influence has not been confined to the social sciences. Gökalp’s thoughts shaped the formation of the Republic of Turkey after the dissolution of Ottoman Empire. Gökalp’s traces can be found in the public’s political, economic and socio-cultural restructuring. In an attempt to combine social values (national culture) with the elements of Western civilizations that inspired his thinking, Gökalp considered the relations between the politics and society and asserted that the structures and identities to be constructed should be imposed by the state through the elites that were aware of the people’s conditions, referring also to authoritarian methods as necessary.

Key words: Ziya Gökalp, politics, state, elite.