OTTOMAN BALKAN HERITAGE AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF TURKISH NATIONAL IDENTITY (OSMANLI BALKAN MİRASI VE TÜRK MİLLÎ KİMLİĞİNİN OLUŞUMU)

This study covers the influence of Ottoman Balkan Heritage on the construction of Turkish national identity.In order to shed light on the intricate correlation among the Ottoman heritage, the Balkans and Turkish national identity, thisarticle presents thatwhile the Turkish republicanelite took a negative stance on the Ottoman Empire to create a secular nation-state,Balkanmigrants’ view on Islam as the main component of their identity helped to shape the creation of Turkish national identity.