The Turkishness Contract | Barış Ünlü

E582 | What does it mean to be Turkish? In this episode, we examine that question with sociologist Barış Ünlü. In The Turkishness Contract, Ünlü studies the historical process by which Turkishness developed through a contractual relationship between the state and its citizens. In our conversation, we explore the late Ottoman roots of this process, as well as how the experiences of non-Turkish religious and ethnolinguistic groups shed light onto the often unspoken and unconscious behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs that govern Turkishness. We also discuss the book's wide reception in Turkish and how in its new English translation, Ünlü connects the Turkish experience to global perspectives on race and belonging in the modern world. More at https://www.ottomanhistorypodcast.com/2026/03/turkishness-contract.html Barış Ünlü is Assistant Professor, General Faculty, in the Department of Sociology at the University of Virginia. His latest book is Frantz Fanon: Sömürge Düşünürü - Sömürge Devrimcisi. İstanbul: İletişim Yayınları, 2025. CREDITS Episode No. 582 Release Date: 16 March 2026 Recording Location: University of Virginia Sound production by Chris Gratien. Intro music by Korg Entertainer Keyboard. Interlude music by A.A. Aalto and closing music by Kara Güneş. Bibliography courtesy of Barış Ünlü at https://www.ottomanhistorypodcast.com/2026/03/turkishness-contract.html