The Turkish World
Balances
in the world system have changed as a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The process initially led to and economical and political changes, but then
affected social-cultural fields, too. Turkey is one of the countries most
influenced by the process. Kazakhistan, Kyrgizistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan
and Azerbaijan declared independence, and have since developed relations,
particularly in the cultural dimension, with the Turkish Republic due to the
existence of a shared history. Turkey has provided a new direction for its
cultural policy in that short process, and has expanded
ties
to economic and political dimensions. Bilateral agreements on education, culture,
economic cooperation have been signed and joint projects regarding foundations,
institutions and universities initiated.
In this context, the Ministry of Culture has
established the Turkish World Research Agency under the auspices of the Folk
Cultures Research and Development General Directorate, and this was followed by
new establishments, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Turkish Cooperation
and Development Agency (TIKA) and the Turkish Culture and Arts Joint Management
(TÜRKSOY).
The
Turkish World Research Agency has been carrying out studies and cultural
research and issuing publications about Turkish communities and societies living
outside Turkey. In addition, the agency has also been conducting inventory
studies regarding Kazak, Kırgız, Turkmen, Uzbek and Uygur people who moved to
Turkey after the 1950s, and researching their traditional characteristics. The
agency published a special magazine called Kazaks Living in Turkey in 1999. Over
the next few years, projects regarding Uzbek, Kırgız, Turkmen and Uygur people
will be updated and published. A prestigious book called "Gagauz Folk Culture" (Turkish-English)
was also published in 1999.
The Turkish World Research Agency also
publishes a magazine called "The Turkish World, From the Homeland to the
Ancestral Lands". The magazine is published quarterly and is mainly deals with
science, culture and art. It contains articles about Turkish communities and
societies living inside and outside Turkey. The 17th edition has now been
published.
In
addition to magazines, field research and inventory studies, the Turkish World
Research Agency also offers advisory services on cultural aspects of the Turkish
world with the help of local and foreign scientists, experts and others.
The studies carried out directly by or under
the coordination of the Turkish Research Agency are as follows:
 | Silk Road Folk Culture, Field Researc"
(1992-93-94-95-96) |
 | Turkish
Dialects and Accents and Field Studies" |
 | Nevruz celebrations in the Turkish world"
(1993-94-95-96-97-98-99), in addition to foreign studies regarding Nevruz
celebrations, it has also issued special volumes about Nevruz in the Turkish
world, posters and brochures. |
 | Research
into the Culture Profile in the Turkic Republics" prepared and published by
SİAR |
 | A Gift for the 2500th Year of Merv"
(1995-96) was prepared for publication. |
 | An International Symposium on the 1,000th
Year of Manas Tale" (1995) was held. A special edition of Turkish world Manas
was prepared. |
 | The
Turkish World Photography Exhibition" was held abroad and inside the country.
|