Yalçın Küçük

Yalçın Küçük (1 July 1938 – 6 April 2026) was a distinguished Turkish socialist intellectual, recognized for his contributions as a writer, economist, historian, and media pundit. His academic career, marked by periods of employment and dismissal from institutions like the Middle East Technical University and Ankara University, reflected his deep engagement with leftist causes and Marxist theory. Küçük's scholarship focused on critical analyses of the late Ottoman and Republican periods in Turkish history, as well as Soviet economic development, all viewed through a Marxist lens. He also delved into sensitive topics such as crypto-Judaism (Sabbateanism) in Turkey and offered sharp critiques of the Justice and Development Party. Despite facing political repercussions, including dismissals from academia and legal troubles such as imprisonment for spreading separatist propaganda following interviews with Abdullah Öcalan, Küçük remained a prolific and influential voice. His written works, numbering in the dozens, covered a wide range of subjects from economic planning and industrialization to intellectual history and political commentary. He continued to publish and engage in public discourse until his passing in 2026.