The concept of nation and the building of the nation state in Turkish modernization from the second half of the 19th century (1850-1950)

In Nation States, individuals are defined as competent and respected members of society legally, politically, culturally and economically. Nationalization policies are carried out by means of "compulsory education, military service, political historiography, political participation" in order to create a national identity. Nation-states that are newly established or that want to continue their existence are trying to create homogeneous individuals by integrating different individuals from social, political and institutional perspectives in order to create nations that can provide their own legitimacy on a certain territory. The effects of political, economic, cultural, religious, philosophical and scientific developments in Europe in the 19th century, when modern nation-states were built, were also seen in the Ottoman Empire. In this study, the transformation of the people, who are the subject of the nation-building process that started in the last period of the Ottoman Empire, into a nation is discussed within the framework of the concepts of nation and nationalism within the structural features of the nation-state. The Turkish Revolution that took place under the leadership of Atatürk and the Turkish identity that was created took the source of legitimacy from the people who lived within the borders of the National Pact, who won the Turkish national identity. Nation formation in Turkey has progressed with the process of citizenship. The social position of the Turkish people has evolved from being a servant to being a subject, from being a subject to being a citizen. In the creation of a modern nation in Turkey, the policies carried out by the state from top to bottom have been tried to be processed in all areas of society in terms of legal, cultural, social and economic aspects. The power has been legitimized by various symbols and symbols and this power has been made visible in daily life, and a nationalism shaped by ethnic and linguistic nationalism based on original culture has developed. Keywords: Nation, Citizenship, Nation-State, National Identity.