Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Memleket: Siyaset Ve Yonetim, cilt.19, sa.41, ss.73-96, 2024 (Scopus)
Dr. Hikmet Kıvılcımlı's “history thesis” is also a general state theory. This theory is the general framework of Turkish state theory. In this study, a discussion is carried out on the author's general state theory and what the Turkish state theory is. In addition to being based on Marxism in his state theory, it offers an original explanation with its own concepts. In its formulation, which is based on Marxist state theory, it has shaped a theory that emphasizes historical specificities. The general state theory is embodied in the Turkish state theory that he developed on the example of the Ottoman Empire. In this study, in Kıvılcımlı's state theory, issues such as whether barbarian societies or nomads can establish a state, from which stages they pass to the state stage, and what the origin of the state is are discussed. While the theory of the state is discussed, the method and intellectual sources that support the theory are also examined.Extended Abstract Dr. Hikmet Kıvılcımlı's history thesis is also his general state theory. In this study, his general and Turkish state theories are discussed. Not only focusing on state theory, but also focusing on his method and intellectual resources are analyized. The study includes two parts which are “General State Theory” and “A Look Turkish State Theory: Ottoman State”. Also, general state theory has two subtitles that are “Theoretical Background” and “History Thesis/General State Theory”. His theoretical background is explained due to the fact that his state theory is directly linked to this background. There are three significant points in here. They are his method, which is dialectic materialism, and the relationship between his history thesis and both Ibn Haldun and Islam. Kıvılcımlı’s general state theory is the original combination of Marxist theory and conquest theory in relation to the question of what is the origin of the state. In terms of general state theory and Turkish state theory, Kıvılcımlı is an original thinker who puts forward the state theory from a Marxist perspective but taking into account historical specificities. In this respect, it can be said that it maintains its value today and that its thoughts are significant. On the other hand, Turkish state theory, does not cover the Old Turkish societies. It is based on studies of the Ottoman Empire. He divides the problem of the origin of the state into two: first type of development and second type of development. In the first type of development, in line with the Marxist explanation of the origin of the state, he explains the origin of the state with the transition to class society, while in the second type of development, he explains it with "historical revolutions". Furthermore, Kıvılcımlı divides history into two: prehistory and history. He starts history around B.C. 5-4 thousand years ago. History stage includes ancient history and modern history. Ancient history is the history of before 14th century. There are only historical revolutions in this stage. In ancient history, the transition from barbarism to civilization took place through "historical revolutions"; so it happened with the barbarian vaccine. According to him, civilizations that are corrupt and about to collapse are being destroyed by the barbarian vaccine. In order for them to be destroyed and a new civilization to be established, barbarians must come and destroy the old civilization. One type of historical revolutions was carried out by those who came from upper barbarism, as in the case of the Sumerians, and the second type was carried out by those who came from middle barbarism, as in the case of the Ottomans. While the first of these two types of transition to civilization could establish an original civilization from its own internal dynamics, the second type, since they did not have the capacity and opportunities to do this, took the superstructural relations of the civilization they destroyed and they established a similar one of the old civilization. Within the framework of these discussions, there is a question: “Can barbarian or nomadic societies establish a state?” Kıvılcımlı answers this question through Ottoman State. Accordingly, he characterizes the first establishment of the Ottoman Empire, albeit with contradictory expressions, as the failure to become a state or the transition phase to a state. Moreover, he says that "definitive statehood" occurred with the reign of Fatih. With the era of Mehmet the Conqueror, the primitive socialist solidarity values that came from barbarism, disappeared and as a result of the emergence of social classes, "definitive statehood" was achieved. As the Ottoman Empire became a state, it acquired the superstructure relations of the Byzantine Empire, which it destroyed. The reign of Fatih, which he called the Second Ottoman Empire, is ultimately the continuation of Byzantium. The period until Yıldırım Beyazıd, which Kıvılcımlı calls the First Ottoman Empire, was a structure established by the Turks. But it is not exactly a state. Here it is followed that nomadic barbarians cannot establish a state in terms of general state theory. When they establish a state and transition to civilization, their nomadic barbarian characteristics disappear. This is a typical example of the transition from middle barbarism to civilization. The Ottoman Empire became a feudal state when it became a state and collapsed when it lost its old territorial order.