Nations and Races

Our transition from the 2-3 million year history of Humanity (humans and hominids - homo) to homo saipense, which is considered modern humans and is the only living human species today, only covers a history of 150-200 thousand years (remains recently found in a cave in Morocco may date it back 300 thousand years), that is, homo sapiens, which spread from Africa to the world approximately 150 thousand years ago, did not differentiate in terms of physical characteristics and genetic origins while turning into a species that lives on 7 continents today.

The emergence of humans from Africa and their spread to various geographic regions allowed them to adapt to different environmental conditions. Over time, these adaptations created genetic diversity, which in turn led to the emergence of physical differences, in other words, the evolution of homo sapiens.

Although modern genetic research accepts the view that there are no biologically distinct "races" within the human species, that is, the genetic differences between people depending on their geographical origins are considered to be quite small, people have been grouped according to geographical and cultural differences since ancient times.

The concept of race in the modern sense was shaped in biological and social sciences, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries, and differences based on skin color were emphasized.

In this sense, the concepts of social and cultural bond, common values, common identity, linguistic and historical unity are not accepted as concepts related to race, since these concepts are the equivalent of the concept of "Nation" and are used to define people's social identities and social organizations.

So, by definition, a nation generally refers to a group of people united around a common history, culture, language, religion and values. A nation is generally considered a political structure or nation and is defined by social, cultural and historical ties. Concepts such as the Turkish nation, the French nation and the Japanese nation refer to communities with a specific geographical region, language and culture.

Race, as we said above, is a category defined on the basis of biological and genetic differences. Race is generally associated with physical characteristics (skin color, hair structure, facial shape, etc.) and genetic characteristics, and it should also be noted that genetic studies have shown that the genetic structure of humans is quite complex, and even when people are born with the genes they receive from their mother and father, the new genetic characteristics that emerge with the combination of these genes can vary greatly.

Although expressions such as “Turkish Race, German Race, Japanese Race” are not considered genetically valid, it is more appropriate to use more accurate and inclusive terms from a genetic and anthropological perspective. In fact, considering the genetic diversity and complexity of human populations, it is a more accurate and inclusive approach to emphasize cultural and social identities instead of the concept of race.