''Adımlar'' () was a literary and political magazine which appeared in Ankara, Turkey, between May 1943 and April 1944. Its subtitle was ''Aylık Fikir ve Kültür Dergisi'' (). It is known for its cofounder, owner and editor-in-chief Behice Boran, a Turkish socialist politician, and for its introduction of humanist approach towards literature in the country.

History and profile

''Adımlar'' was established by Behice Boran and

Muzaffer Şerif Başoğlu Muzafer Sherif (born Muzafer Şerif Başoğlu; July 29, 1906 – October 16, 1988) was a Turkish- American social psychologist. He helped develop social judgment theory and realistic conflict theory. Sherif was a founder of modern social psych ...

in Ankara in 1943, and its first issue was published in May that year. Boran was its owner and editor-in-chief. It billed itself as a populist and

humanist Humanism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes the individual and social potential, and agency of human beings, whom it considers the starting point for serious moral and philosophical inquiry. The meaning of the term "humanism" ha ...

publication and developed its own humanist approach known as people's humanism. One of its goals was to introduce major literary work from contemporary Western literature to improve the Turkish intellectual environment. In the discussions of these literary works the magazine employed a sociological framework. Over time ''Adımlar'' became a forum for Turkish leftist intellectuals who published articles on Fascism, freedom, and democracy criticizing the government. ''Adımlar'' ceased publication in April 1944 after producing 12 issues. The reason for its closure was the intensified

anti-communist Anti-communism is political and ideological opposition to communist beliefs, groups, and individuals. Organized anti-communism developed after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia, and it reached global dimensions during the Cold War, when th ...

campaign in Turkey. Behice Boran argued in an interview with the Turkish journalist

Uğur Mumcu Uğur Mumcu (; 22 August 1942 – 24 January 1993)
um:ag was a

in 1986 that her articles led to the government pressure on and the closure of both ''Adımlar'' and '' Yurt ve Dünya'' in 1944. All issues of ''Adımlar'' are archived by TUSTAV. In the documents of the

Federal Bureau of Investigation The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and Federal law enforcement in the United States, its principal federal law enforcement ag ...

on Muzaffer Şerif Başoğlu, known as Muzafer Sherif in the US, ''Adımlar'' was described as an extremely nationalist, extremely liberal, and anti-racist publication.

Contributors

In addition to Behice Boran various leading Turkish writers contributed to ''Adımlar'', including Nermin Menemencioğlu,

Hilmi Ziya Ülken Hilmi Ziya Ülken (1901–1974) was a Turkish scholar and writer who had an influential role in the development of sociological and philosophical views in Turkey. In addition to his scientific work, he produced literary work, including poems. Ea ...

, Jean Camborde, Burhan Arpad, Walter Ruben, Liko Amar, Yunus Kâzım Köni, Bekir Kunt,

Nurullah Ataç Nurullah Ataç (21 August 1898 – 17 May 1957) was a Turkish writer, poet and literary critic. Life He was born on 21 August 1898 in Istanbul, then the capital of the Ottoman Empire. He studied in the Galatasaray High School and the Faculty o ...

, Suat Taşer,

Rıfat Ilgaz Rıfat Ilgaz (7 May 1911 – 7 July 1993) was a Turkish teacher, writer and poet. He became especially known for his novel "Hababam Sınıfı". He maintained a socialist line both in his writings and in his personal life. His magazine work, which ...

Sabahattin Ali Sabahattin Ali (25 February 1907 – 2 April 1948) was a Turkish people, Turkish novelist, short-story writer, poet, and journalist. Early life He was born in 1907 in Ardino, Eğridere township (now Ardino in southern Bulgaria) of the San ...

, Kemal Bilbaşar and

Orhan Kemal Orhan Kemal (15 September 1914 – 2 June 1970) is the pen name of Turkish novelist Mehmet Reşit Öğütçü. He is known for his realist novels that describe the life of the poor in Turkey. Biography Orhan Kemal was born in Ceyhan, Adana, ...

. Zeki Baştımar, a member of the Turkish Communist Party, also published articles in the magazine. Other leftist figures worked for ''Adımlar'' were

Pertev Naili Boratav Pertev Naili Boratav, born Mustafa Pertev (September 2, 1907 – March 16, 1998) was a Turkish folklorist and researcher of folk literature. He has been characterized as 'the founding father of Turkish folkloristics during the Republic'.Arzu Öztü ...

and Adnan Cemgil. Most of the Adımlar contributors were academics at

Ankara University Ankara University () is a public university, public research university in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. It was the first higher education institution founded in Turkey after the History of the Republic of Turkey, formation of the Turkish republ ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adimlar 1943 establishments in Turkey 1944 disestablishments in Turkey Defunct literary magazines published in Turkey Defunct political magazines published in Turkey Magazines established in 1943 Magazines disestablished in 1944 Magazines published in Ankara Monthly magazines published in Turkey Socialist magazines Turkish-language magazines