In âThe Turkâ in the Czech Imagination (1870s-1923), Jitka MaleÄková describes Czechsâ views of the Turks in the last half century of the existence of the Ottoman Empire and how they were influenced by ideas and trends in other countries, including the European fascination with the Orient, images of âthe Turk,â contemporary scholarship, and racial theories. The Czechs were not free from colonial ambitions either, as their attitude to Bosnia-Herzegovina demonstrates, but their viewpoint was different from that found in imperial states and among the peoples who had experienced Ottoman rule. The book convincingly shows that the Czechs mainly viewed the Turks through the lenses of nationalism and Pan-Slavism â in solidarity with the Slavs fighting against Ottoman rule.
Jitka MaleÄková is a Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Charles University in Prague. She specializes in modern Ottoman history, gender and nationalism, terrorism, and relations between Europe and the Ottoman Empire and has published extensively on these subjects.
AcknowledgmentsVII List of FiguresIX Introduction: Why Czechs and Turks?
1 The Return of the âTerrible Turkâ
â1 The Turkish Wars and Czech Variations on the Turkish Theme
â2 âThe Turkâ as a Proxy
â3 The Oppressors of Our Slavic Brethren
â4 The Turkish Race
â5 The Longevity of Stereotypes
â6 Conclusion
2 Czechs Abroad
â1 Getting Ready to Travel
â2 Entering the Orient
â3 Backward or Exotic?
â4 Turkish Men (To Say Nothing of the Dogs)
â5 Women
â6 The Turks and Others
â7 Conclusion
3 Civilizing the Slavic Muslims of Bosnia-Herzegovina
â1 Whatâs in a Name?
â2 The Orient at Oneâs Doorstep (Safe Even for Ladies)
â3 Occupation as Liberation
â4 Czech Colonial Ambitions
â5 Conclusion
4 âOur Mission in Oriental Studiesâ
â1 The Founding Fathers of Czech Oriental Studies
â2 Oriental Studies âas Translationâ
â3 Finding a Voice of Their Own
â4 Scholars and Czech Society
â5 Conclusion