Ahmed Ağaoğlu (1869 1939): The life and thought of a Turkish Nationalist during 1908-1918

Abstract

Ahmed Agaoglu (1869-1939) was one of the prominent figures in the Turkish nationalist movement. Turkish nationalist ideology dominated the Second Constitutional Period and survived the establishment of the Turkish Republic. Ahmed Agaoglu continued to play an important role in the newly established republic at least until single-party rule was set up in 1930,Because Ahmed Agaoglu was in the center of important developments in Russia, in Ottoman Turkey, and in the Turkish Republic, his life and thoughts deserve a complete study. In this present thesis the social and political thoughts of Ahmed Agaoglu, along with his political career, are studied between the years 1908-1918.The role played by Russian muslims in the development of Turkish nationalist movement is well known. Ahmed Agaoglu was one of them and his experience in Azerbaijan under Russian rule and in France as a student was determinant in his political and ideational formation.Ahmed Agaoglu was a man of politics and action. It is shown in this thesis that he played an important role in the political life under the government of the Committee of Union and Progress.Westernization and liberalism were two main currents that formed his thought. Indeed, his liberalism was derived from westernization. His conversion to a Turkish nationalist from being a shii Iranian was in stages. One of these stages was his adherence to the Islamic reformism of Afghani. In this thesis, his confrontation with other ideologies, such as Ottomanism and Pan-Islamism, and his understanding of reformist Islam are studied. Ahmed Agaoglu's understanding of national phenomena and Turkish nationalism are also studied in this work.Throughout his life, Ahmed Agaoglu held important positions in political life, was close to the ruling elite of time, but did not loose his critical stance. In order to evaluate the personality and thinking of Ahmed Agaoglu in its integrity, a last chapter is added to this thesis concerning his career from 1919 until his death in 1939.