Issue 77 · Spring 2016

Dear Reader,

We are happy to introduce the Spring 2016 volume of our Journal bilig, the common platform for Turkic world academicians in the field of social sciences. In Eurasia the onset of spring is called Nevruz. As the editorial board of bilig, we would like to wish you health and happy Nevruz, a time of celebration of friendship and brotherhood and sisterhood.
Our 77th issue is as colorful and fruitful as the Nevruz itself. We are pleased to present to you thirteen invaluable articles in this issue.
“The Predicament of the CrimeanTatars, Past and Present” by M. Akif Kireççi and Selim Tezcan focuses on the past and present problems faced by the Crimean Tatars in Crimea which was annexed by the Russians in March 2014. Turkish academicians’ perspective of the Crimean problem will be of relevance to those with an interest in the subject.
The article “Kaptan-ı Derya Canım Hoca Mehmed Paşa” by Meltem Aydin has been prepared with the help of archival resources and includes new information regarding the Turkish-Russian rivalry in the Black Sea region. Aydin has examined important developments during the first half of the 18th century based on the personal history of Canim Hodja Mehmet Pasha, a military and statesmen who has served as a Captain of the Sea for many years.
Baktybek Isakov has carried out a very successful oral history in order to shed light on how traditional social structures interacted with the State during the Soviet period based on the case of Kyrgyzstan. Isakov’s findings refute the arguments presented in Soviet history records. Isakov argues that despite counter claims, the Soviet Union did not succeed in assimilating the Central Asia peoples: that on the contrary, these peoples have managed to preserve stability and prosperity through kinship in the local culture.
When you read Kubilay Yazici’s article entitled “Turkish Identity and Culture on the Postage Stamps of the New Turkic States”, you will see that historical, cultural, and geographic topics are reflected on the postage stamps during the process of the nation-building of Turkic Republics.
Sezen Kılıç examines the relations between Turkey and Germany in 1915 by analyzing twenty two letters sent to Enver Pasha by the German Naval Attache, Humann.
Onur Güneş Ayas’s article compares the modernization efforts of Turkish and Russian music from a music sociology perspective. This is a valuable study in observing the negative consequences of the failed Turkish music reform that is supposedly modeled after the Russian music reform.
Kadir Murat Altıntaş’s article entitled “The Analysis of Disappearing Traditional Turkish Craftsmen’s Commercial Problems” deals with the difficulties faced during the creation of a cultural industry that will play an important role in the preservation of craftsmanship that is an integral part of intangible cultural heritage.
Finally, in her article, Gulbanu Koshenova provides a comparative study of an early Karahan period work, the Babaci Hatun tomb in Talas, Kazakhstan within the context of Turkish-Islamic Tomb architecture.
We would like to remind you that the last issue of 2016 will be a special issue on Hoca Ahmet Yesevi. We welcome all timely submissions.
We extend our best wishes to all the contributors and our readers.
Prof.Dr. Fırat PURTAŞ
Editor in Chief