Dostoevsky’s Perception of Turks and the East in the Context of the Western Question Dostoevsky analyzed Western society in its religious, political and social manifestations and at every opportunity related his metaphysical thoughts to the present political situation and possible future of the West. Although he criticized the West in all its aspects, he thought that the main antagonism was between Russia, the prospective leader of the West, and the Ottomans, the representative of the East and he saw the Turks as the main enemy. Dostoevsky criticized the West with the intention of finding a remedy for its present crisis. On the contrary he criticized and attacked to the Turks in order to bring the East to her knees. According to the universal ideal of Dostoevsky, Eastern peoples are predestined to succumb to the Western powers led by Russia and serve it as a colonized entity. Thus the universal mission, to which Dostoevsky assigned Russia, is also a proposal for a new Russian-centered Eastern policy for the West. Dostoyevsky claims that Russia should capture Constantinople in order to realize its historical mission and take the place of Byzantine Empire. However, this Eastern policy which stems from the ideal of Third Rome has upset the balances in the Western World and driven a wedge between Russia and the other Western Powers. At this point, the Eastern question has become a Western question for Russia and Dostoevsky.
Dostoevsky East-West Conflict Baykan Sezer Russian thought Turkish image Eastern Question Western Question universalism.
Özet
Dostoyevski Batıyı dinsel, siyasal ve toplumsal yönleriyle analiz ederken metafizik konulardaki görüşlerini her fırsatta Batının siyasal durumu ve geleceğiyle ilişkilendirmiştir. Dostoyevski Batı'yı tüm yönleriyle eleştirmekle birlikte siyasal anlamda esas karşıtlığı Batının müstakbel lideri olarak gördüğü Rusya'yla Doğuyu temsil eden Osmanlı arasında kurmakta ve Türkleri baş düşman olarak görmektedir. Dostoyevski Batıyı düzeltmek, değiştirmek ve içinde bulunduğu çıkmazdan kurtarmak amacındadır, Doğuya ise boyun eğdirmek ister. Dostoyevski'nin gelecekteki evrensel birlik hayalinde Doğu halklarına düşen, boyun eğmek ve sömürge olarak Ruslara hizmet etmektir. Dostoyevski'nin Ruslara yüklediği evrensel misyon, aynı zamanda Batıya sunulmuş Rusya merkezli bir Doğu siyaseti önerisidir. Dostoyevski'ye göre Rusya'nın tarihsel misyonunu yerine getirmesi için İstanbul'u alarak Bizans'ın yerine geçmesi gerekmektedir. Halbuki Üçüncü Roma idealinden kaynaklanan bu Doğu siyaseti, Batı içi dengeleri sarstığından Rusya'yı Batılı merkezlerle karşı karşıya getirir. Böylelikle Doğu sorunu, Dostoyevki ve Rusya için aynı zamanda Batı sorunu haline gelmiştir.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Dostoyevski, Doğu-Batı çatışması, Rus düşüncesi, Türk
imgesi, Rusya, Doğu Sorunu, Batı Sorunu, evrenselcilik
Abstract
Dostoevsky's Perception of Turks and the East in the Context of the Western
Question
Dostoevsky analyzed Western society in its religious, political and social
manifestations and at every opportunity related his metaphysical thoughts to the present
political situation and possible future of the West. Although he criticized the West in all
its aspects, he thought that the main antagonism was between Russia, the prospective
leader of the West, and the Ottomans, the representative of the East and he saw the
Turks as the main enemy. Dostoevsky criticized the West with the intention of finding
a remedy for its present crisis. On the contrary he criticized and attacked to the Turks
in order to bring the East to her knees. According to the universal ideal of Dostoevsky,
Eastern peoples are predestined to succumb to the Western powers led by Russia and
serve it as a colonized entity. Thus the universal mission, to which Dostoevsky assigned
Russia, is also a proposal for a new Russian-centered Eastern policy for the West.
Dostoyevsky claims that Russia should capture Constantinople in order to realize its
historical mission and take the place of Byzantine Empire. However, this Eastern policy
which stems from the ideal of Third Rome has upset the balances in the Western World
and driven a wedge between Russia and the other Western Powers. At this point, the
Eastern question has become a Western question for Russia and Dostoevsky.
Keywords: Dostoevsky, East-West Conflict, Baykan Sezer, Russian thought,
Turkish image, Eastern Question, Western Question, universalism.
Dostoyevski Doğu-Batı çatışması Rus düşüncesi Türk imgesi Rusya Doğu Sorunu Batı Sorunu evrenselcilik
Primary Language | Turkish |
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Journal Section | Makaleler |
Authors | |
Publication Date | August 29, 2013 |
Published in Issue | Year 2013 Volume: 2 Issue: 1 |