Representation of subaltern and their voice: Conceptual and theorethical critiques

Subaltern studies emerged in India under the rubric of postcolonial theory. This thesis is trying to evaluate the contribution of subaltern studies in terms of representation of the subaltern and their voice by discussing subaltern studies in Turkey. Subaltern Studies Group's initial point, starting from the point of view of Gramsci to subaltern history, from his referring to the uniqueness and significance of subaltern history, their inquiry for silenced subaltern voice during capitalist expansion to the India and later through Indian Independence movement is reviewed in this work. Indian national independence insurgencies during that time are evaluated in respect of Anderson's imagined communities notion. Gayatri Spivak's questioning of whether the subaltern can speak or not, is discussed in regard of subaltern represantation, their voice and political subject's passive relationship to power and its complex consequences. Asef Bayat's views, regarded subaltern poverty and urban poverty, are refered in the frame of authoritarian modernisation in Middle East and its relation to modernisation in Turkey. Edward Said's orientalism approach is referred as an early impact to subaltern studies in Turkey and Şerif Mardin's center-periphery analyse and its similarity to Indian subaltern studies dual form (elite-subaltern) is discussed. Toplum ve Bilim, İletişim Publications circle's contribution to institutionalization of subaltern studies in Turkey and relation of subalternity to migration, urban poverty, political power and state discourse, gender inequality, cultural sphere is discussed. Finally, critiques of subaltern studies and Vivek Chibber's canonical contributions to this category is discussed. Key words: Subaltern, Subalternity, Subaltern Studies in Turkey, Center-periphery, subalternity and nationalism, urban poverty