SCRIPT AS AN INSTRUMENT OF POLITICS: ORTHOGRAPHIC REFORMS AND IDEOLOGICAL CONTESTATIONS IN THE TURKIC WORLD

Аннотация

This article examines the historical trajectory of script reforms among Turkic peoples, focusing on their origins, implementation, and far-reaching effects on political, social, and cultural developments from the early 20th century to the present. Using Uzbekistan and related Turkic nations as case studies, the research investigates how changes in writing systems—from Arabic to Latin and Cyrillic scripts—were deeply intertwined with state-building, modernization efforts, and shifting geopolitical alliances. The analysis highlights the historical context in which these reforms emerged, the ideological debates they sparked, and their impact on national identity, education, and cultural heritage. By drawing on historical sources and scholarly interpretations, the article demonstrates that orthographic reforms served as pivotal historical events that not only reflected but also shaped thebroader historical processes of nation formation, cultural transformation,and regional integration in theTurkic world. Key words: Turkic peoples, orthographic change, historical transformation, nation-building, modernization, political history, cultural heritage, alphabet reform, Soviet influence, national identity, historical sources, Turkicworld, geopolitical change, educational history Introduction: The history of script reforms among Turkic peoples represents a significant and complex chapter in the political, social, and cultural evolution of the region. Beginning in the early 20th century, these reforms—most notably the transition from the Arabic script to Latin and later Cyrillic alphabets—were not merely linguistic adjustments but deliberate political instruments aimed at redefining national identity, facilitating modernization, and aligning societies with emerging ideological and geopolitical frameworks. In Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s 1928 alphabet reform marked a decisive break from the Ottoman past and Islamic tradition, symbolizing the Republic’s commitment to secularization and Westernization. This reform was part of a broader language policy that sought to “purify” Turkish by eliminating Arabic and Persian influences, thereby fostering a homogeneous national language conducive to scientificand educational advancement1. Atatürk’s language reforms involved a comprehensive strategy that included the establishment of the Turkish Linguistic Society in 1932, tasked with the “re-turkification” and simplification of the language, especially in educational materials. The Arabic script was considered ill-suited to the phonetic structure of Turkish and was seen as a cultural barrier linking the Turkish people to their Islamic past, which the new republic aimed to transcend. Despite resistance from conservative and religious groups, the reform was implemented rapidly, accompanied by nationwideliteracy campaigns and publiceducation efforts led personally byAtatürk2. 1Yılmaz,Kaya."CriticalExaminationoftheAlphabetandLanguageReformsImplementedintheEarlyYearsof theTurkishRepublic."JournalofSocialStudiesEducationResearch,vol.2,no.1,2011,pp.59–82. 2Karaman,Zeynep."AtatürkandtheTurkishTerminologyReform."Bilig,no.69,2014,pp.95– 112,https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/234326. https://ijmri.de/index.php/jmsi volume 4,issue5,2025 685 Parallel to Turkey’s reforms, Turkic peoples in Soviet Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, underwent similar orthographic transformations under Soviet language policies. The Soviet Latinisation campaign of the 1920s and 1930s aimed to modernize and secularize Turkic languages within the USSR, reflecting ideological motivations akin to those in Turkey, albeit within a different political context3. These reforms were not only about script change but also about reshaping cultural identities, educational systems, and political allegiances within the Turkicworld. This article investigates these intertwined historical processes, focusing on how script reforms functioned as instruments of political power and ideological contestation in Uzbekistan and other Turkic nations. By drawing on primary historical documents and scholarly analyses, the study highlights the profound socio-economic and cultural impacts of orthographic change, demonstrating that script reform was a pivotal factor in nation-building, cultural transformation, andtheredefinition oftransnational Turkic connections. Literature Review. The history of script reforms among Turkic peoples is a well-explored topic, especially regarding Turkey’s 1928 alphabet reform under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. This reform was not just a linguistic change but a political act aimed at breaking with the Ottoman Islamic past and promoting a secular, Western-oriented national identity. Yılmaz (2025) emphasizes that Atatürk viewed the Arabic script as a cultural barrier, and the reform was part of a broader effort to “purify” Turkish by removing Arabic and Persian elements. Similarly, Sinitsyn (2025) highlights the ideological motivations behind Turkey’s Latin