Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is a great leader who symbolized the Turkish nation’s struggle for independence and laid the foundations of the Republic. Both the founder of the Republic of Turkey and the pioneer of the modernization process, Atatürk is a pivotal figure in shaping the future of the Turkish people. In this article we will take an in-depth look at Ataturk’s life, his thoughts and his impact on Turkey.
The Life of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was born in Thessaloniki in 1881. Thessaloniki, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire, is now part of Greece. Mustafa Kemal, who attached great importance to his education from a young age, rose rapidly with the education he received in military schools. In 1905, he began serving the Ottoman Empire as a staff officer.
War Academy and its Rise in the Ottoman Army
After graduating from the Military Academy, Mustafa Kemal served in various positions in the Ottoman army. He fought in many critical battles, especially in the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915, where his leadership made him a popular hero. The success at Gallipoli demonstrated Mustafa Kemal’s military genius and strategic acumen. With his success at Gallipoli, he became famous among the Turkish nation and became a very important figure in the Ottoman army. Therefore, this battle was one of the turning points of his life.
War of Independence and the Proclamation of the Republic
One of the most important activities of Mustafa Kemal was to go to Samsun in 1919 and start the War of Independence. The War of Independence is a struggle for independence of the Turkish nation against the occupying forces. After World War I, Ottoman lands were occupied by Greek, Italian, French and British armies. Mustafa Kemal went to Samsun in 1919 and started the Turkish war of independence and defeated the occupation forces in Anatolia. In 1923, the Republic of Turkey was proclaimed as the fruit of this victory and Atatürk became the first President of the Republic.
Atatürk’s Revolutions and the Reconstruction of the Republic of Turkey
As soon as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk founded the Republic, he undertook many radical reforms to build modern Turkey. These reforms covered every field from education to law, culture to economy.
Revolutions in Education
Atatürk prioritized education in order for the Turkish nation to reach the level of modern civilizations. In 1924, he modernized the education system by enacting the Tawhid-i Tedrisat Law. The adoption of Latin letters instead of Arabic letters contributed significantly to the increase in the literacy rate.
Reforms in Law and Democracy
Atatürk also made a great transformation in the field of law. In 1926, he adopted the Turkish Civil Code, modeled on the Swiss Civil Code. This law significantly improved women’s rights. Women were given the right to vote and be elected, and in 1934, Turkish women gained the right to elect deputies for the first time.
Economic Revolutions
Atatürk carried out many reforms to modernize the economy. Investments in industrialization, the construction of the railway and policies to increase productivity in agriculture played an important role in Turkey’s economic independence. In addition, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, established in 1923, aimed to reduce external dependence by laying the foundations of the Turkish economy.
Language and Culture Reforms
Atatürk established the Language Institute to simplify the Turkish language. In this way, Turkish was purified from Arabic and Persian words and made more understandable. Atatürk also made many innovations in the cultural field for the Turkish nation to find its own identity.
Atatürk’s Thoughts and Ideals
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was not only a military leader but also a profound thinker and ideologue. Atatürk’s ideas were a roadmap for the Turkish nation to survive as a free and independent society. These ideas were based on the principles of populism, nationalism, secularism, revolutionism and republicanism.
Secularism and the Relationship between Religion and State
One of Atatürk’s most important principles was secularism. Believing that religion is a matter of personal belief, Atatürk argued that the state should be neutral in religious affairs and shaped the education and legal system with this understanding. As a secular country, Turkey is one of the leading countries in the world in this regard.
Nationalism and Populism
Atatürk’s understanding of nationalism advocated that the Turkish nation should unite around common culture and values rather than racism. According to the principle of populism, sovereignty unconditionally belonged to the nation. Atatürk aimed to build a free society where every citizen had equal rights.
Revolutionism and Forward Looking
Great revolutions were made at the foundation of the Republic and the continuity of these revolutions was ensured. The principle of revolutionism states that society should modernize and be in a constant search for innovation. Atatürk always emphasized the importance of progress through science and reason.
Education and Science
Atatürk always advocated that education and science are the most important tools and wanted scientific thinking to spread in all segments of society. The universities founded by Atatürk, scientific research and modern education systems are still the cornerstones of Turkish education today.
International Relations
Atatürk’s foreign policy adopted a peaceful approach and enabled Turkey to gain a strong position in the international arena. With the understanding of “Peace at home, peace in the world”, Atatürk both ensured Turkey’s domestic peace and adopted a peaceful stance in its relations with the outside world.
Social and Cultural Change
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s legacy is also a story of social and cultural change. The inclusion of Turkish women in social life, the emancipation of the Turkish people and Turkey’s reaching the level of modern civilization were among Atatürk’s most important goals.
Deceased
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was the president of the Republic of Turkey from 1923 until 1938. In this process, he both saved the country from occupation and with his revolutions
He modernized the Republic of Turkey. In 1937, he fell ill. His illness started with loss of appetite and weakness. After the examination, it was understood that he had cirrhosis. However, despite his severe illness, he did not leave state affairs. He traveled around Turkey and made efforts for the development of the country. This caused his condition to worsen. He fell into a coma in October 1938 and died on November 10, 1938.
