Background
Erik-Jan Zürcher was born on March 15, 1953, in Leiden, Netherlands. He is a son of Erik Zürcher, a sinologist, and Henny (Bulten) Zuercher, a homemaker.
Rapenburg 70, 2311 EZ Leiden, Netherlands
Erik-Jan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Turkish studies in 1974 from Leiden University. Later, he continued his education at the same university, graduating with a Master of Arts degree in Turkish studies with minors in both modern history and Persian in 1977 and a Doctor of Philosophy degree, also in Turkish studies, in 1984.
2017
Erik Jan Zürcher, giving a speech on Turkish foreign policy on September 14, 2017.
Rapenburg 70, 2311 EZ Leiden, Netherlands
Erik-Jan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Turkish studies in 1974 from Leiden University. Later, he continued his education at the same university, graduating with a Master of Arts degree in Turkish studies with minors in both modern history and Persian in 1977 and a Doctor of Philosophy degree, also in Turkish studies, in 1984.
On August 25, 2018, Erik-Jan Zürcher, professor and specialist on Turkey, was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion. He was presented with the award by Leiden's Deputy Mayor Martine Leewis.
(Social, Economic and Political Studies of the Middle East...)
Social, Economic and Political Studies of the Middle East and Asia.
https://www.amazon.com/Political-Opposition-Early-Turkish-Republic/dp/9004093419
1991
(This edition builds upon and updates its twin themes of T...)
This edition builds upon and updates its twin themes of Turkey's continuing incorporation into the capitalist world and the modernization of state and society.
https://www.amazon.com/Turkey-History-Erik-Jan-Zurcher-ebook/dp/B007TV8AD2/?tag=2022091-20
1993
(This study, edited by Erik J. Zurcher and Donald Quataert...)
This study, edited by Erik J. Zurcher and Donald Quataert investigates the growth of the industrial workforce in the Ottoman Empire and Turkey in the period from 1840 to 1940, when the Industrial Revolution began to have a serious impact on the Middle East. Special attention is devoted to the role of ethnicity and gender; to the transition from traditional guilds to modern trade unions; work stoppages and strikes; and the role of the state.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Workers-Working-Ottoman-Turkish-Republic/dp/1850438757
1995
(The grand narrative of "The Young Turk Legacy and Nation ...)
The grand narrative of "The Young Turk Legacy and Nation Building" is that of the essential continuity of the late Ottoman Empire with the Republic of Turkey, that was founded in 1923. Erik Jan Zürcher shows, that Kemal's "ideological toolkit", which included positivism, militarism, nationalism and a state-centered world view, was shared by many other Young Turks.
https://www.amazon.com/Young-Turk-Legacy-Nation-Building/dp/1848852711
2010
educator author turkologist scholars
Erik-Jan Zürcher was born on March 15, 1953, in Leiden, Netherlands. He is a son of Erik Zürcher, a sinologist, and Henny (Bulten) Zuercher, a homemaker.
Erik-Jan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Turkish studies in 1974 from Leiden University. Later, he continued his education at the same university, graduating with a Master of Arts degree in Turkish studies with minors in both modern history and Persian in 1977 and a Doctor of Philosophy degree, also in Turkish studies, in 1984.
In 1977, Erik-Jan began his career as a lecturer at the University of Nijmegen (present-day Radboud University Nijmegen), a post he held till 1987, when he was made a senior lecturer there. Zürcher held that position until 1997.
In 1990, Zürcher was appointed a senior research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, a post he held till 1999. Also, later, during the period from 2008 till 2012, he was a director of the same institute.
Between 1994 and 1997, he acted as a professor of Ottoman and Turkish history at the University of Amsterdam. During the period from 1997 till 2018, Erik-Jan served as a professor of Turkish studies at Leiden University. In 2018, he was made an academic director of the Leiden University Institute for Area Studies (LIAS).
During his career, Zürcher has always made every effort to foster contacts with the academic world in Turkey. He set up the master's programme in European Union Studies, together with the Bilgi University in Istanbul, the aim of which was to prepare young Turkish graduates for positions within the European Union. The programme ran for four years, and then it became clear, that the paths of Turkey and the European Union were not going to merge.
He also co-founded the Turkish Institute and the Netherlands Institute for Higher Education in Ankara (NIHA).
(The grand narrative of "The Young Turk Legacy and Nation ...)
2010(This edition builds upon and updates its twin themes of T...)
1993(Social, Economic and Political Studies of the Middle East...)
1991(This study, edited by Erik J. Zurcher and Donald Quataert...)
1995Zürcher pleaded for accession of Turkey to the European Union. However, in 2016, Erik-Jan noted, that his previously expected advancement in democratic standards and Rechtsstaat didn't materialize - the reason why Turkey cannot and shouldn't become a member of the European Union.
Erik-Jan points to a tendency in Turkish government circles to refer nostalgically to the Ottoman Empire. According to him, this is in line with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's depicting of a powerful Turkey in the future, linked to a glorious empire in the past.
Erik-Jan is a member of Brismes, Middle East Studies Association and Oosters Genootschap in Nederland.
Erik-Jan married Ariette Y. Kooijman on October 1, 1977. Later, on February 12, 1980, the couple divorced. On April 2, 1982, Zürcher married his second wife, Monique P. L. M. Bernards, a translator, whom he divorced in 1991. On June 18, 1992, Erik-Jan married his third wife, whose name is Sashia.
Zürcher is a father of two children.