Birikim

Birikim is a Turkish leftist magazine and publishing project whose name means “accumulation.” It was established in 1975 by a group of Turkish Marxist intellectuals, among them Ömer Laçiner and Murat Belge, and its first issue appeared on 1 March of that year. The publication initially operated from Ankara and presented itself under the subtitle “Aylık sosyalist kültür dergisi,” or “Monthly socialist cultural journal.” Its editorial purpose was not simply to reproduce the positions of one of Turkey’s competing Marxist factions, but to reconsider socialism through critical engagement with Turkish political history, culture and intellectual life. From its beginning, Birikim sought to distinguish itself from influential currents on the Turkish left, including Maoist tendencies and approaches that treated Kemalism as an unquestionable political reference point. The magazine developed a comparatively independent intellectual line, combining socialist debate with cultural criticism and philosophical discussion. During its first period, from 1975 until 1980, it regularly addressed existentialism and other currents of European thought alongside political and social questions. Contributors included writers and intellectuals such as Onat Kutlar, whose work helped establish the magazine’s broad cultural profile. The magazine was forcibly suspended after the Turkish military coup of 1980. Military authorities banned Birikim immediately after the coup, and it did not publish between 1984 and 1989. During this interruption, a number of its contributors, led by Murat Belge, helped establish the weekly publication Yeni Gündem. Yeni Gündem was related to the same intellectual milieu but was not a direct continuation of Birikim. Birikim resumed publication in March 1989, beginning a second phase in its history. The political environment and the international left had changed significantly by then, particularly as the Soviet Union approached dissolution. The magazine’s writers increasingly examined neoliberalism, which some regarded as highly effective not only in economic organization but also in the political sphere. This represented a substantial shift from the publication’s earlier socialist framework and made Birikim a venue for debate about the transformation of the left after the Cold War. The publication has also served as a channel for introducing international theory to Turkish readers. In 1993 it published writings by Slavoj Žižek in Turkish for the first time, broadening its engagement with contemporary continental philosophy and cultural theory. Later contributors included Tanıl Bora and Ahmet İnsel. Ömer Laçiner was serving as editor-in-chief in 2005 and is closely associated with the magazine’s long-term editorial direction. Until 2005, Birikim was primarily a print periodical. That year it was redesigned as an online publication, extending the project beyond its original monthly print format. Its publishing activities are associated with Birikim Publications, which also produces other titles, including Toplum ve Bilim. Birikim remains best understood as an intellectual magazine and publishing platform rather than a conventional consumer brand: its identity is built around political theory, socialist debate, social analysis, cultural criticism and the circulation of ideas in Turkish.

Birikim began publication in Turkey in 1975, during a period of intense ideological and political activity on the Turkish left. It was created by Turkish Marxist intellectuals including Ömer Laçiner and Murat Belge, with its first issue dated 1 March 1975. Initially based in Ankara, the magazine adopted the subtitle “Aylık sosyalist kültür dergisi,” presenting itself as a monthly socialist cultural journal rather than solely as a party-oriented political periodical. The founding project aimed to rethink socialism through a critical examination of Kemalism and the political assumptions common among Turkish leftist organizations. Birikim did not align itself with one of the established Marxist factions and rejected Maoist paradigms that influenced parts of the left in the 1970s. Its pages brought political theory into contact with cultural and philosophical inquiry. In its first phase, which lasted until 1980, existentialism was among the recurring areas of discussion. Onat Kutlar was one of the magazine’s regular contributors during this period. The 1980 military coup ended Birikim’s initial run. Military authorities banned the magazine immediately after the coup, and it remained absent from publication during the following years. Between 1984 and 1989, members of the same broad intellectual milieu, led by Murat Belge, helped create the weekly Yeni Gündem. Although Yeni Gündem provided a platform for several associated writers, it was not a full continuation of Birikim. Birikim returned in March 1989 in a substantially changed political and international context. The decline and eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union forced socialist intellectuals to reconsider inherited political models. In the magazine’s second phase, some writers became more receptive to neoliberalism, which they viewed as a successful economic and political approach. This did not erase the publication’s connection to leftist debate, but it shifted the questions it addressed and encouraged discussion about the future of socialism, liberalism and political organization after the Cold War. The magazine’s role has also included the translation and publication of international intellectual work for Turkish audiences. In 1993 it published writings by Slovenian philosopher and cultural theorist Slavoj Žižek in Turkish for the first time. Later major contributors included Tanıl Bora and Ahmet İnsel. Ömer Laçiner was identified as editor-in-chief in 2005, reflecting his continuing importance to the publication’s editorial identity. Birikim was historically a print magazine issued under a monthly socialist-cultural-journal format. In 2005 it underwent a redesign and became an online publication. Its publishing activities are connected with Birikim Publications, which also produces titles such as Toplum ve Bilim. Across its print and digital phases, Birikim has functioned as a Turkish-language forum for socialist theory, political analysis, cultural criticism and philosophical debate.

• 2005

  Transition to an online publication

  [1]Birikimen.wikipedia.org

  The magazine was redesigned as an online publication after operating primarily in print.

• 1993

  Žižek published in Turkish

  [1]Birikimen.wikipedia.org

  Birikim published writings by Slavoj Žižek in Turkish, helping introduce his work to Turkish readers.

• 1989

  Publication resumes

  [1]Birikimen.wikipedia.org

  Birikim was relaunched in March 1989 and entered a second editorial phase.

• 1984

  Associated contributors establish Yeni Gündem

  [1]Birikimen.wikipedia.org

  During Birikim’s publication interruption, contributors led by Murat Belge helped establish the weekly Yeni Gündem, which was not a direct continuation of Birikim.

• 1980

  Publication banned after the military coup

  [1]Birikimen.wikipedia.org

  Military authorities banned Birikim immediately after Turkey’s 1980 coup.

• 1975

  Founding and first issue

  [1]Birikimen.wikipedia.org

  Birikim was founded by Turkish Marxist intellectuals including Ömer Laçiner and Murat Belge. Its first issue appeared on 1 March 1975.

An independent Turkish leftist intellectual publication that combines socialist debate, political analysis, philosophy and cultural criticism. Its editorial identity has historically emphasized critical distance from established Marxist factions, Maoist paradigms and unexamined Kemalist assumptions.

• Political and cultural magazine · 1975

  Birikim magazine

  Birikim’s core publication is a Turkish-language leftist magazine covering socialism, political theory, social questions, cultural criticism and philosophy. It began as a monthly print journal in 1975, was suspended after the 1980 coup, resumed in 1989 and later moved to an online format.

• Publishing imprint

  Birikim Publications

  Birikim Publications is the publishing entity associated with the magazine and produces other titles, including Toplum ve Bilim. The available reference material does not establish a complete catalogue or separate corporate structure.

• 2005

  Redesign as an online publicationStrategy

  Background

  After operating as a print magazine for decades, Birikim changed its publishing format in the mid-2000s.

  Action taken

  The magazine was redesigned as an online publication.

  Aftermath

  The move extended Birikim’s publishing model beyond its original monthly print format.

  Source

1. 1Birikimen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Birikim official websitebirikimdergisi.com