The establishment of the Islamist generation in Turkey: Ideology and utopia in Necip Fazıl's poetry

This study examines the role of Necip Fazıl Kısakürek's poetry in the process of establishing an Islamist generation in Turkey. Based on the assumption that the poet is a foundational figure, both through his proposals aimed at encompassing the literary domain and his long-term efforts to reinforce Turkey's ideological sphere, the study presents a poetic and ideological account of Necip Fazıl's pursuits, particularly those concentrated in Çile [The Ordeal]. The dissertation also analyzes poems not included in Çile, which contain highly significant discussions. Necip Fazıl's formulation of a counter-discourse to the secular nation-building project, which reached its peak with the foundation of the Republic, positioned him as the unofficial spokesperson for circles opposing the regime. Especially during the single-party period, the poet elevated repressed religious motifs and instrumentalized them to construct an Islamist utopia. As the most resonant voice of Islamist ideology in the history of the Republic, Necip Fazıl left a profound mark on the existential orientation of generations. The study examines Necip Fazıl's poetry through conceptual pairs such as nostalgia-ressentiment, Orientalism-Occidentalism, the sacred-the secular, and Eros-nomos. His texts are analyzed through these conceptual frameworks to clarify how the messages conveyed in his poetry contributed to collective mobilization. This dissertation also explores the magazines Ağaç [The Tree] and Büyük Doğu [The Great East] with the aim of constructing a comprehensive intellectual portrait of Necip Fazıl.