Cenkay Uyan

190449001
Turkish Politics Final Exam

Is Atatürk a unifying element in Turkey? Do you think that different minorities and
different groups are integrated into the system under the umbrella of Atatürk? Are
the current problems Turkish society faces today like the Kurdish issue and refugee
crisis related to it? Is there any other element that could unify Turkish society
better?

Why is this question important?

 Understanding the national unity and identity of Türkiye
 Understanding ongoing challenges, such as the Kurdish issue and the refugee problem
 Understanding political polarization
 To analyze the role of Atatürk in international relations and economic strategies
 Searching for a common ground for Turkish citizens
 To analyze the effectiveness of the Atatürk as a political figure in today's politics

Dependent Variable:
 The level of agreement or consensus among the people of Turkey regarding the unifying
role of Atatürk.

Independent Variables
For Yes:
 He is the founder of the Republic of Türkiye.
 He is the leader of the modernization of Turkish society.
 He is the leader of the Turkish nation in their independence war.
 He is the one who gave women freedom in social and political life.
 Türkiye's crucial institutions' members explicitly use Atatürk's discourse and sayings,
such as military and bureaucracy.
 Turkish people show respect and love for Atatürk explicitly in memorial days and on
social media.
 It is not about being ethnically Turkish, there are people from various ethnic groups
defining themselves as Kemalists.
 The extent to which Atatürk's principles and the history of the Republic are emphasized
in the national education curriculum. A strong emphasis on these subjects in schools
could contribute to a shared understanding of Atatürk's role in shaping the nation.
 The portrayal of Atatürk in mainstream media, including news, films, and documentaries,
shapes public opinion that is shared publicly.
For No:
 The Kurdish problem is a result of forcing people to accept Kemalist ideas. They do not
see Atatürk as their leader. Therefore, the figure of Atatürk cannot integrate Kurdish
people into the system.
 Conservatives do not see Atatürk as a unifying element. They have a history of conflicts
with Atatürk and his followers. It creates tension between Conservatives and others in
Turkish society.
 Some political groups argue that Atatürk's legacy has been used to suppress different
ideas and limit political pluralism.
 Debates and controversies over historical narratives that question or reinterpret aspects of
Atatürk's legacy. Different interpretations of history lead to divergent views on the
unifying role of Atatürk.
 There are debates about Türkiye's ideal international relations. Some people still strictly
follow Atatürk's ideas like isolationism. Some people support expansionist policies like
the Muslim Brotherhood or Turan. This debate can be seen in the Libya and Syria war.
Turkish society is divided into 2. One group says that we should be there for our national
interests and being a regional power. Another group says that we should not intervene in
other countries' problems.
 There is division in economic policies, especially privatization. Some people argue that
this is against the principle of Atatürk, statism. Some argue that this liberal policy will
benefit all Turkish citizens.
 There is an increasing problem of hatred against refugees currently. The people who are
against refugees legitimize their actions by saying that it is against Atatürk's principles.
We are a secular Turkish state. These refugees will harm these principles. Others are
referring to religious discourse and saying that we are the successor of the Ottoman
Empire. We always help people in need. That shows the unsuccess of Atatürk's unifying
role.