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Selected Works of İbrahim Kaypakkaya
The Selected Works of Ibrahim Kaypakkaya includes some of the most influential writings by this major leader of the Communist movement in Turkey, and founder of the Communist Party of Turkey/Marxist-Leninist (TKP/ML).
The Selected Works are necessary reading for anyone interested in the class structure of modern Turkey, the development of Turkey's anti-revisionist movement, and the struggle for Kurdish self-determination. Of particular interest is the "Kurecik Regional Report" which is similar to Mao's "Hunan Report", a creative attempt to think through the specific class contradictions of modern Turkey. "The Theses of Shafak Revisionism Regarding the Kemalist Movement" is of historical importance, useful for those interested in Kemalism - a key ideology of the Turkish ruling classes - and the ways in which the communist movement, before the revolutionary break of which Kaypakkaya was part, were unable to break from national chauvinism. Perhaps the most important essay in this collection, however, is "The National Question in Turkey", the first Marxist treatment of the Kurdish Question that thoroughly argued for the right of national self-determination in regards to Kurdistan. Written around five years before the founding of the PKK, Kaypakkaya's examination and defense of the Kurdish right to national self-determination was not only controversial when it was written, but has determined the political line of those revolutionary organizations in Turkey who have declared solidarity with the Kurdish struggle for self-determination since then.
The Selected Works are necessary reading for anyone interested in the class structure of modern Turkey, the development of Turkey's anti-revisionist movement, and the struggle for Kurdish self-determination. Of particular interest is the "Kurecik Regional Report" which is similar to Mao's "Hunan Report", a creative attempt to think through the specific class contradictions of modern Turkey. "The Theses of Shafak Revisionism Regarding the Kemalist Movement" is of historical importance, useful for those interested in Kemalism - a key ideology of the Turkish ruling classes - and the ways in which the communist movement, before the revolutionary break of which Kaypakkaya was part, were unable to break from national chauvinism. Perhaps the most important essay in this collection, however, is "The National Question in Turkey", the first Marxist treatment of the Kurdish Question that thoroughly argued for the right of national self-determination in regards to Kurdistan. Written around five years before the founding of the PKK, Kaypakkaya's examination and defense of the Kurdish right to national self-determination was not only controversial when it was written, but has determined the political line of those revolutionary organizations in Turkey who have declared solidarity with the Kurdish struggle for self-determination since then.
Hardcover
Published January 1, 2014
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January 24, 2023
This was actually draft translation but due to the things that I can't reveal in here it was published before its final version came to existence. Many quotes Kaypakkaya used wasn't translated by the translator in this version (he was tracking down to original quotes so that he could include their official English translations). There are also some missing parts in this translation. Readers must keep in these issues in their minds, however, still this might provide some insights into the views of Kaypakkaya for the people who are interested in him, tho it's obvious that it can't said that this volume exactly represents his views. I recommend readers to obtain National Question in Turkey by Kaypakkaya from Foreign Languages Press (published as "On National Question"), which it's a good and corrected translation that also includes missing parts and quotes of classics by Kaypakkaya.
Displaying 1 of 1 review