Investigating Turkey: Detective fiction and Turkish nationalism, 1928--1950

After extensive study of the Ottoman Empire, one notes that the historiography focuses on events from the perspective of the sultan and/or the elites. This should come as no surprise as this has historically been the case. However, I felt an urge to know more about the lives and histories of the general population. In addition to this interest, I hold along-standing interest in propaganda in popular culture. Concepts of Turkish nationalism were expounded by the elite in a top-down effort to rally the population of Anatolia to protect their homeland from the impending attempt by European powers to control the territory. As it was a top-down effort, there needed to be a mechanism or mechanisms through which these concepts could be transmitted to the general population. I decided to assess the level to which authors of indigenous Turkish detective fiction written between1928 and 1950 attempted to aid in this process of transmission. In order to assess this, I carefully analysed five series of detective fiction. I found that authorial intent to spread ideas of Turkism was clearly displayed by personal addresses to the reader and the uniformity of message in each and every series. These messages of character traits Turks should embody, the palpable derision shown toward Turks who would work to support a foreign power, and promotion of both rationalism and feminism adhered closely to Kemalist concepts of Turkism. As a result, I conclude that these authors did work to spread concepts of Turkism to the general population.