He was a famous writer. He was born in 1876, in Diyarbakir. With the beginning of the second Constitutional Period he appeared to be a supporter of nationalism. He was very influential in Turkish literature and politics. With his works belong to the “National Literature Movement” he renovated the style and the language of the Turkish literature.

He had began his education in Diyarbakir. He finished the Military academy in 1894, in the same city. He joined to the committee emerged by the medicine students to put an end to the sultanate and he was imprisoned, in 1898. After his condemnation had finished he was sent to Diyarbakir. Here, he made many researches on political sciences, history and philosophy. He encouraged the people to rebel against the tyranny of the commander of the region. The people attacked the post office for three days and telegraphed to Istanbul to complain Commander Ibrahim Pasha. As the communication had been interrupted between the European and the Asian countries; the event had been enlarged. And the foreign countries put pressure on the Ottoman government for the solution of the problem. An investigation committee had been sent from Istanbul and the people’s requests had been given. However, the events which led the people to revolt reappeared again and the post office was occupied for 11 days, this time. At the end of these 11 days, the government dismissed Ibrahim Pasha and his corps (1907). In his first book Saki Ibrahim, Ziya Gokalp reveals this event.

After, the declaration of the Second Constitution, the secret society that Ziya Gokalp had been founded renamed as the Party of Union of Progress’ Diyarbakir Branch. In 1909, he joined the congress of the Party in Salonica as the Diayarbakir representative. One year later, he lectured psychology in Istanbul and worked as the Diyarbakir Educational Investigator. Later, he went to Salonica, again and joined to Union Party’s congress he was elected a central member. In Salonica, he wrote in many newspapers and journals about nationalism. In 1912, the party’s centre was moved to Istanbul and Ziya Gokalp had been there, too.

He played an important role in Turkish nationalism with his works. He lectured on Sociology in Istanbul University. After the occupation of Istanbul he was arrested and exiled to the island of Malta for two years. He had died in 1924, in Istanbul.   He has many literary works and researches.

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