Doğancan Özsel, MA, Political science
dogancan.ozsel@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk
Tel: +420 775 353 336

Books

Political Parties of the Republican Era 1923-2006 (in Turkish)

Subject: Political parties of Turkey

Reference: Kaynar, M. K., Özsel, D., Altaylı, E., Çavdar, O., Ateş, S.. (2007). Cumhuriyet Dönemi Siyasi Partileri 1923-2006 [Political Parties of the Republican Era 1923-2006]. Ankara: İmge.

This is a source book on the political parties of Turkey founded in the period between the establishment of the republic in the country up to 2006. All of the 277 political parties founded within that period are included in the book, and detailed information about each of these parties is presented. First edition was published by one of the most renown publishers of Turkey, the İmge Publishing. A second edition is planned to be published in 2010.


 

Book Sections

Radicalism and the Conservative Thought: Are Neoconservatives Really 'Neo'? (in Turkish)

Subject: Neoconservatism and its resemblance with the Classical Conservatism

Reference: Özsel, D. (2009). Radikalizm ve Muhafazakar Düşünce: Yeni Muhafazakarlıklar Ne Kadar Yeni? [Radicalism and the Conservative Thought: Are Neoconservatives Really 'Neo'?]. In A. Öztürk (Ed.), Yeni Sağ [The New Right]. Ankara: Vadi. [Forthcoming]

This article focuses on the resemblances between neoconservatism and the classical conservatism. Against the dominant view which proposes that the pro-active style of neoconservative politics differentiates it from the reactive politics of the classicals, it concludes that classical conservatism is as 'ideational' as any other political ideology, and hence, their stance against status quo cannot differentiate them substantially from the neoconservatives.

"It is precisely at this moment when the substantial bond between tradition and presence is broken, or when it is admitted that such a bond had never been existed, that the pandora's box is opened for conservatism and the whole conservative project turns out to be a kind of praxis, a creative act. Pointing at the lack of such a bond will allow one to comprehend the unsettled, and even contradictory arguments observed between the lines of every conservative text. (...) This lack is the reason to regard all traditions as artifacts."


'Re'writing Deconstruction (in Turkish)

Subject: Jacques Derrida and deconstruction

Reference: Özsel, D. (2008). Kurgusökümü 'Yeniden' Yazmak ['Re'writing Deconstruction]. In A. Öztürk (Ed.), Toplumsal Üzerine Yeni Perspektifler [New Perspectives on the Social]. Ankara: Dipnot.

This work offers an introduction to Derrida's philosophy and his deconstructive reading, through its misreading in the Turkish literature of social sciences.


Conservatism (in Turkish)

Subject: [An introductory article on Conservatism]

Reference: Özsel, D. (2006). Muhafazakarlık [Conservatism]. In F. Başkaya (Ed.), Kavramlar Sözlüğü [Dictionary of Political Concepts] (Vol II). Ankara: Özgür Üniversite.

This is a 2,300 words entry on Conservatism. It is published in the Dictionary of Political Concepts, and is intended to present a brief outline of the conservative ideology and its variants.


 

Articles

Wandering Radicals in the Twilight of Conservatism: Radical Conservatism and the Conservative Ideology

Subject: The presence of radicalism in all variants of the Conservative Ideology and the resulting ambiguity of Conservatism.

Reference: Özsel, D. 'Wandering Radicals in the Twilight of Conservatism: Radical Conservatism and the Conservative Ideology', History of Political Thought. [On Review]

As a reactionary movement emerged in the Weimar Republic, radical conservatism is generally ignored by those who are interested in the history of conservative thinking. If necessary, it is regarded as a proto-fascist movement rather than a specific interpretation of the conservative ideology. After presenting a sketch of radical conservatism, this article attempts to counter this approach by underlining fundamental similarities between traditional and radical conservatisms. It especially emphasises the common philosophical anthropology that underpins both. By departing from this commonality, the article argues in the conclusion part that conservative thought has an ambiguous and paradoxical nature.


Customary Killings in Turkey and the Turkish Modernisation

Subject: Dominance of masculinity in the Turkish modernisation project and its influences on honour killings in Turkey

Reference: Özsel, D., Onur İnce, H., Yaralı, A.. (2009). 'Customary Killings in Turkey and the Turkish Modernisation', Middle Eastern Studies, . 45, No.4, pp. 537-551.

Rather than reducing the problem to ethno-cultural characteristics, we explain the persistence of customary killings in Turkey through the shortcomings of the Turkish modernization project. As we argue, the problem persists because of the failure of modernization to have a real impact on rural regions, and of the conceptualization of woman by the modernizing elite as an object to be moulded. Also, by utilizing proverbs and novels we address the prevalent patriarchal culture which endorses customary killings but, far from being problematised, it is even promoted by this project. As an alternative to this we propose a more critical and deliberative modernization.