SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENT OF A YOUNG SCHOLAR
On October 21, 2025, an extended academic meeting of the Department of Turkology and History of Eastern Countries was held at the Faculty of Oriental Studies of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. During the meeting, PhD candidate Izbasar Yerlanyly Turgynbayev presented the preliminary defense of his doctoral dissertation titled: “The Development Directions of Turkey’s Cultural Modernization (1923–2020)”.
The meeting was attended by the faculty members, official reviewers, and the scientific advisor. Reviewers: Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Amanzhol Boranbayuly Kalysh (Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Department of Archaeology, Ethnology, and Museology); Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor Fakiya Meshvedenovna Shamshidenova (Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University). Scientific Advisor: Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor Myrzakhan Sharipbayuly Egamberdiyev (Department of Turkology and History of Eastern Countries).
The dissertation aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the historical, social, political, and civilizational paradigms of the cultural modernization of the Republic of Turkey. In his research, the doctoral candidate systematized the processes of industrialization, urbanization, political transformation, Westernization, and secularization across different historical stages. The study pays particular attention to the transformation of cultural heritage, national identity, and civilizational continuity. The author examines Turkey’s cultural renewal not only through internal social factors but also within the context of geopolitical, cultural-communicative, and ideological determinants.
The reviewers emphasized the scientific novelty of the research, its methodological foundation, and the extensive empirical data base. They also highlighted the relevance of the topic in modern historiography, the application of comparative analysis methods, and the importance of an interdisciplinary approach. The doctoral student gave well-reasoned, evidence-based responses to the questions posed by the faculty members. During the discussion, it was noted that the scientific significance of the dissertation lies in its examination of Turkey’s cultural modernization within the broader context of Turkic civilization’s development.
The research findings are expected to serve as a foundation for future studies in the fields of Turkic integration, cultural diplomacy, and civilizational continuity.
We firmly believe that the work of the young researcher will make a valuable contribution to strengthening the cultural, historical, and academic ties among Turkic peoples and to analyzing the processes of interaction within the Eurasian civilizational space.
We wish PhD candidate Izbasar Yerlanyly Turgynbayev great success in his scientific journey, new ideas, and fruitful research!
A.Kyrkymbekova
