Socio-politics of translation and conflicting narratives

Translation processes are inevitably conducted amid conflicting and intertwining socio-political and ideological dynamics, and the credibility of the narratives they represent is established through discussion among relevant stakeholders within the society for whom the text is intended. This article aims to analyze the socio-political and ideological context in which the unauthorized and abridged Turkish translation of Ethnic Groups in the Republic of Turkey (1989) emerged, as well as how it was disseminated in Türkiye, using Baker’s narrativity theory as a framework. The translation, which arrived in Turkish in the early 1990s, presents a conceptual narrative that claims to highlight ethnic variety in Türkiye, and thereby contradicts its nationalist public narrative. It faced immediate opposition from nationalist factions, while simultaneously serving as a reference point for the ideological positions of liberals and socialists. The ensuing reactions — both favorable and unfavorable — from historians, politicians, and academics expose the conflicting narratives inside the country. The article explores these narratives and focuses on the implications of its role in generating discussion about the strength of the principles upholding the Turkish Republic’s view of ethnicity.