As National Turkish union of student, as an islamist student movement after 1965 (MTTB)

This dissertation/thesis is an attempt to focus on the contributions of universityyouth to the political life- a domain, which seems not to be studied sufficientlyin Turkish social scientific world. MTTB (National Turkish Union of Student)is one of the most important and long-standing union of students. This studyaims to present an examination on MTTB by following certain distinctive anddifferent periods in the history of MTTB in relation to the changes in thepolitical-historical contexts. While the dissertation/thesis does not claim topresent an exhaustive examination on the relationship between youthassociations and Turkish political life in general, the periodization aims atpresenting a proper and a more adequate reading of MTTB, which goesbeyond the exclusive readings that define MTTB as a conservative movement.In this study, we aim to analyze and write the history of MTTB as themost long-standing union of student in Turkey. Our analysis of MTTB willcomprise the period from 1965 to 1980. Starting from its establishment in 1965until its abolishment in 1980, MTTB has been influenced by four differentpolitical inclinations. From 1916 until the first abolishment in 1933, the firstterm/phase of MTTB emerges as the conveyor of nationalist beliefs/notions.The second phase of MTTB, which also covers the period of transition from oneparty system to multiparty democracy, is analyzed between 1946 and 1960. Theperiod from 1960 to 1965 that corresponds to the third phase of MTTB, isstudied in terms of its left-wing discourses/notions. Finally, the period from1965 to 1980 is examined in terms of its Islamist notions. In our study, we haveconstructed/created periodizations by taking into consideration MTTB?sspecific conditions and historical context. Yet, MTTB has also acknowledgedand mentioned the concept of periodization in its own resources. In this study,we will mainly focus on the third phase/term of MTTB, which is after 1965 andexamine the Islamist MTTB. In the aftermath of military intervention, havingchanged hands from the left-wing students to the right-wing students in 1965,MTTB, undergoing a process of change would have become a source fromwhich the future politicians would grow.In our study, we have also included the so-called `Akincilar?- raiderorganization, which we perceive as a relevant and key issue in understandingthe third and last phase of/in MTTB after 1965.KEY WORDS; MTTB, Youth Movements, Islamist, PoliticalConsciousness, Change