Anti-imperialism and Kemalism in Turkey's long sixties: Mahir Çayan's theory of revolution in context

Abstract

This article aims to reassess the evolution of Mahir Çayan's theory of uninterrupted revolution in the context of the radical ideological currents of the long sixties in Turkey. It concentrates on Çayan's relations with the National Democratic Revolution (Milli Demokratik Devrim, MDD) movement that enjoyed a considerable degree of political and ideological authority over the youth movements starting in the second half of the 1960s. The article discusses how Çayan interpreted and attempted to revise the theory of national democratic revolution by reference to the changing characteristics of imperialism and colonial domination. Consideration is given to Çayan's critical approach towards the role of Kemalists in the anti-imperialist bloc to be formed.