Hülya Canbakal Society and Politics in an Ottoman Town: ‘Ayntab in the 17th Century. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 2007. 213 pages, footnotes, tables, appendix, bibliography, index. Cloth US$120.00 ISBN 90-04-15456-6

Abstract

regarding race and ethnicity. According to the 1935 Resettlement Law, while those immigrants belonging to the "Turkish race" could settle wherever they wished, others could settle only in those areas which were approved by the authorities. In conclusion, Cagaptay suggests that High Kemalism approached the question of "Who is a Turk" by producing three concentric zones of Turkishness: "an outer territorial one reserved for the non-Muslims (with the Jews closer to the center than the Christians); a middle religious one, reserved for the non-Turkish Muslims; an inner one, reserved for the Turks" (p. 160). According to the author this conceptualization of ethnic boundaries and Turkishness continues to shape official policies today and that "the further away (in the three concentric circles) a group is from the center, the more unaccommodating is the state toward it" (p. 160). Islam, Secularism, and Modem Turkey: Who is a Turk? is a creative and a well-crafted work that should stimulate further research on a number of important issues which Cagaptay explores in his study. One can quibble about some of its shortcomings, most notably the absence of a discussion of the Alevis' role in forming Turkish national identity, but these should not detract from the overall scholarly quality of the book. Cagaptay's study deserves to be read by all those interested in learning more about one of the critical issues in modern Turkish history and politics. Sabri Sayari Sabanci University, Istanbul