Stranded Modernity

High modernity claims that the modernity project gave rise to institutional organs of modern nation states, culminating in an emergence of ultra-military states with wartime economy in the early twentieth century. It also argues that the same developmental pattern continued to dominate in the post-World War II period. This chapter examines this high-modernity thesis, employing Japan and Hiroshima as cases to be analyzed. Against the high-modernity thesis, many believe that Japan had a historical disjuncture in 1945, being ultramilitary before the end of World War II and a peaceful nation after. Examinations show that, while the modernity project controlled a large-scale historical process in Japan, it met vehement resistance, and became stranded in Hiroshima.

Slaveries of the First Millennium

In a world where princesses found themselves enslaved, kidnapped boys became army generals, and biblical Joseph was a role model, this book narrates the formation of the Middle Ages from the point of view of slavery, and outlines a new approach to enhance our understanding of modern forms of enslavement. Offering an analysis of recent scholarship and an array of sources, never before studied together, from distinct societies and cultures of the first millennium, it challenges the traditional dichotomy between ancient and medieval slaveries. Revealing the dynamic, versatile, and adaptable character of slavery it presents an innovative definition of slavery as a historical process.

Contested Indigeneities: “Adivasi” Politics Historically and in Contemporary Times

This article focuses on the development and transformations of adivasi political identity and its articulations with indigenous consciousness in India since the advent of colonial capitalism. The apogee of adivasi politics and the “politics of indigeneity” since the 1970s has coincided with the networking among indigenous groups within the United Nations. The history of such politics will be traced in order to illustrate the forms in which social identities appear over a long historical process. In other words, the changing character of the antagonistic contradictions between the hegemon and different sections of the oppressed will be illustrated, including the articulation of “indigeneity” and “ adivasi” consciousness. Methodologically, the article promotes a dialectical interpretation of the phenomenon and counters a metaphysical analysis of identity politics.

Surveillance Society in a Digitalized World

Although the surveillance society discussions have been carried out for a long time, they have recently moved to a different stage with the increase of digitalization. There is a new situation that changes the entire historical context of surveillance, and this new situation is briefly called digital surveillance. However, to make sense of digitalization and digital surveillance, it is necessary to explain how digital citizenship contributes to this process. Digitalization without digital citizenship is unthinkable. In short, this study will show the continuities and breaks of the phenomenon of surveillance in the historical process by shifting from classic surveillance practices to digital surveillance forms. Digital surveillance is considered to be much more complex, sophisticated, incomprehensible to all, and transcends all kinds of time and space boundaries compared to classic surveillance.

Parametrising Historical Islamkoy Courtyard-Dwellings: Spatial Quality Parameters and Examination Based on AHP Method

Throughout the historical process humans have shaped the environment that they lived in and developed it according to their needs. The living culture has been formed with various spatial setups in dwellings which are the most basic habitats of humankind. Today, functionality comes into prominence in this living culture which is referred to as traditional dwellings. This shows that the continuity is ensured by presenting mass and cultural harmony between spatial setups and the garden and neighboring dwelling relations. Amongst the traditional dwellings, Turkish house is also considered as an important example, which provides continuity with its diverse plan organizations and spatial characteristic. The courtyard character in traditional dwellings is the space that is effective in the organization of spatial which sheds light on present day with various parameters. This is because the dwelling is located in the courtyard. Moreover, the courtyard, which starts with the entrance and where the households carry out their daily lives, is very significant for the Turkish dwelling as it contains both natural and cultural characteristics. The traditional dwellings of the village of Islamköy, which is located in the Atabey district in Isparta province of Turkey, are discussed within the scope of the study, which examines how the concept of courtyard that contains the functional and aesthetic values of the Turkish dwelling, forms various plan organizations and spatial characters in many cultures, affects the spatial quality. Spatial quality parameters were examined on five second-degree registered traditional dwellings located on Okul Street in the Islamköy village. Three basic principles have been determined which are functional, aesthetic and ecological and the sub-parameters of these determined principles have been introduced with the information and documents obtained from the literature. The AHP method was used to determine the priorities of the parameters in this direction. Thus, taking into account the spatial quality parameters, the priority parameters of the courtyard character in the traditional dwellings of Islamköy were determined

Origin and Historical Process of Modern Europe: Part Two

Europe made the earliest contribution to modern civilisation and modernisation of Europe has long drawn attention from the academic world. This article conducts an investigation into the origin and historical process of modern Europe from a macroscopic perspective, in order to develop better understanding of the connection between European history and modern civilisation. It first illustrates the historical background against which modern Europe originated. Then it interprets the historical process of Europe’s modernisation with respect to economy, culture, politics, and technology. The outcomes and significance of Europe’s modernisation are discussed at the end. This study also reveals obvious continuity of European history and its impact on the modern world.

Origin and Historical Process of Modern Europe: Part One

Europe made the earliest contribution to modern civilisation and modernisation of Europe has long drawn attention from the academic world. This article conducts an investigation into the origin and historical process of modern Europe from a macroscopic perspective, in order to develop better understanding of the connection between European history and modern civilisation. It first illustrates the historical background against which modern Europe originated. Then it interprets the historical process of Europe’s modernisation in respect to economy, culture, politics, and technology. The outcomes and significance of Europe’s modernisation are discussed at the end. This study also reveals obvious continuity of European history and its impact on the modern world.