Turkey is probably at the heart of the 'modern Islamic problem'. Together with that of Japan Turkish history constitutes one of the most worthwhile to study experiment of coping with the problem of living in a 'West' dominated world as 'non Westerner'. The Turkish 'modernising' reforms which started in early 18th century and gained momentum in the 19th century culminated in the so called 'Kemalist' political and cultural 'revolution' that established a 'West oriented' Republic.