The New Cultural Climate in Turkey: Living in a Shop Window

The New Cultural Climate in Turkey is a beautifully written collection of essays by a leading Turkish intellectual. It presents a compelling analysis of cultural politics in Turkey, arguing that the dominant clichéd dualities of East/West and secular/sacred mask a reality of silence, repression and return. Gürbilek’s keen analysis of radical changes following the 1980 coup demonstrates how two apparently contrary cultural strategies – one repressive and censoring, forcing abnegation, the other liberal and provocative, inviting assimilation – were roused to join in silent solidarity. Offering a sophisticated review of the culture, politics and literature in Turkey, this is the sole book in English that analyses the cultural aspects of modern Turkey in order to explore its place within global politics – a groundbreaking work.