DOĞUŞ VE "ÖTEKİ" EKSENİNDE ARAP MİLLİYETÇİLİĞİ: VAHADA BİR SERAP / Emergence of Arab Nationalism and the Arab Nationalist Perception of the Turks (original) (raw)

Arab nationalism is one of the nationalist movements of the age of nationalism. Like other nations of the 19th century, the Arabs tried to gain their independence by using nationalism as a tool. While Arab nationalism was mostly cultural nationalism at its early stages, it became political nationalism as from early 20th century. Arab nationalism, both its cultural and political forms, first appeared among Christian Arabs; they lacked emotional ties that tied Muslim Arabs to the Ottoman state. Later Arab nationalism demanded secession and independence from Ottoman Empire. As such it was supported by the Muslim Arabs. What is the “other” which caused Arab nationalism to emerge? It is generally believed that the “other” for Arab nationalism is either the Turks/Ottoman Empire or the West/Europe. This paper having explained literary, religious and political causes of Arab nationalism, examines Arab nationalist perception of the Turks and concludes that the Turks did not become the only ‘other’ for the Arabs at the early stages of Arab nationalism.