Issue 78 · Summer 2016

Dear Reader,
We are very happy to introduce bilig’s new issue.
This issue comprises 14 valuable articles on a variety of topics about the Turkic World from different fields of social sciences. We believe that these articles, which have been selected after a meticulous evaluation process, will contribute to their respective fields of study and provide valuable new information to society.
2016 is the 20th anniversary of bilig. Starting from a very firm foundation, bilig has constantly improved over the years thanks to the outstanding contributions of many scholars. On this occasion, we would like to extend our appreciation and gratitude to all of the contributors and to the staff for their work that has made bilig what it is today.
Our journal continues to grow in significance. It is inundated with quality article submissions. According to Thomson Reuters’ Web of Science the citations to articles published in bilig have been consistently high. Bilig is being distributed to all the university libraries in Turkey, and it is accessible online at http://bilig.yesevi.edu.tr/. In addition, bilig has a strong presence on social media platforms.
2016 is also the 25th anniversary of the independence of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. For this occasion, the Akhmet Yassawi University Board of Trustees will hold an international symposium on the subject of “Turkic Republics on the 25th Anniversary of their Independence” on October 6-7, 2016 in Ankara, Turkey. During their quarter century of independence, the Turkic Republics have come a long way in terms of strengthening their national autonomy and culture. This period of independence has also opened the path to progress in science, and bilig has become one of the important tools in the progress and unification of social sciences.
We wish the independence and friendship of the Turkic Republics to be permanent, and we hope for the continued success of bilig, which is a concrete product of collaboration in science within the Turkic World. We also offer our sincere respects and best wishes to all of our readers.
Prof.Dr. Fırat PURTAŞ
Editor in Chief