JADIDISM AS A FACTOR OF NATIONAL AWAKENING, ENLIGHTENMENT, AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROGRESS IN TURKESTAN
Abstract
This article examines Jadidism as a major intellectual and reformist movement in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Turkestan. It analyzes the historical conditions that shaped the movement, its central commitment to educational renewal, and its broader contribution to national awakening, cultural transformation, and social modernization. Particular attention is given to the Jadids’ advocacy of the usul-i jadid (“new method”) schools, the expansion of print culture, the development of theater and modern literature, and the rethinking of society through the concepts of knowledge, discipline, dignity, and progress. The article also considers the role of leading reformers such as Mahmud Khoja Behbudiy, Munawwar Qari, Sadriddin Ayni, and Abdurauf Fitrat in reshaping public discourse in Central Asia. From a contemporary perspective, Jadidism can be understood not only as a cultural and educational movement, but also as an early project of social and socio-economic modernization grounded in human capital, civic awareness, and national self-renewal. The study argues that the legacy of the Jadids remains highly relevant to current debates on education, identity, and development.
Keywords
Jadidism, Turkestan, national awakening, enlightenment, reform, usul-i jadid, education, Central Asia, Behbudiy, Fitrat, modernity, socio-economic progress
References
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- UNESCO. History of Civilizations of Central Asia, Vol. VI; and Silk Roads historical materials on intellectual and political ferment.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Mahmud Khoja Behbudiy.”
- Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Abdalrauf Fitrat.”
- Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Uzbekistan: Education / Cultural Life / Government and Society.”
- Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Ismail Gasprinski.”