The Effects of Westernization Efforts on the Turkish Education System

Authors : Seyithan DEMİRDAĞ, Muhammad Khalıfa MUHAMMAD KHALIFA

Pages : 165-177

Doi:10.24331/ijere.719244

View : 22 | Download : 13

Publication Date : 2020-07-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Westernization refers to the establishment of a system based on science and technology in the life of a society and encourages developing countries to learn and then use what the West has found in science, technology, human rights, prosperity, and art. In this paper, we have argued the effects of Westernization efforts and how the power holding groups use these efforts on their behalf to have authority over governmental institutions and change the education policy of Turkey according to their ideology. Quijano’s notion of Coloniality was used to explain how people, who had a control over governmental authorities used Westernization to impose their own ideology in Turkish education policy. In the paper, firstly, we argued why the conflicts due Westernization arise between pro-Westerners and anti-Westerners and how this situation effects the education policy of some societies in the world. Second, we discussed the Westernization efforts made in Turkey. Third, we explained criticism towards Westernization since the Ottoman period. Lastly, we argued how the conflicts between pro-Westerners and anti-Westerners ended up in military coups.
Keywords : Westernization, Turkish Education