Constructing Socialist Thought through Translation: Alâeddin Şenel and the Politics of Activist Translation in Türkiye

Abstract

This study examines how activist translation practice has been utilized to disseminate socialist ideology and related concepts in Türkiye through the case of Alâeddin Şenel. The theoretical framework of the study is twofold. First, as a historiographical method, it employs microhistory. This approach makes it possible to focus on ordinary people and supplement the missing fragments of historical processes that are typically viewed through a macro lens. The second pillar of the theoretical basis consists of Pierre Bourdieu's sociological concepts, specifically habitus, field, and capital. Rather than presenting a mere compilation of biographical details, these concepts enable a systematic analysis of Şenel’s role as an activist translator. Activist translation is a concept with fluid boundaries and has been practised by translators in various ways throughout history. The strategic selection of texts for translation, aimed at establishing a canon without manipulating content, can be considered a form of activist translation. Şenel, who translated books authored by Marxist and socialist writers whose works have been dominated by historical materialism, appears to have aimed not only to construct an alternative intellectual framework for Turkish readers but also to contribute to the global struggle against dominant historical, political, and social discourses. The case of Şenel demonstrates that translation can be conceived as a strategic ‘front’ within the ideological struggle. Ultimately, this study illustrates that advocates of socialism in Türkiye, despite never constituting a dominant political trend, were not merely passive supporters, but waged a quiet struggle to disseminate their ideologies.