HIS102 HISTORY OF TURKISH REVOLUTION AND ATATURK’S PRINCIPLES II

Week 2: ATATURK'S PRINCIPLES (Republicanism, Nationalism, Populism)

Republicanism
Republic can be described as a form of state in which the nation holds sovereignty in its own hands
and exercises it through elected representatives, that is, deputies, for certain periods of time. Republic is a
form of state. The first essential element in the republic is that the head of state is elected and comes to
power for a certain period of time. In this respect, the republic differs from political structures (monarchies)
in which there is a ruler at the head. The Republic absolutely rejects the method of inheritance (from father
to son) in all state services, from the largest to the smallest. Instead of this method, the selection and
appointment method is essential.

According to Atatürk, "The administration that best suits the nature and traditions of the Turkish
nation is the republican administration." According to him, the Republic is a form of government based on
moral virtue. The Republic is virtue and the Republican administration raises virtuous and honorable people.

Legally, the Republic was declared on October 29, 1923. However, it came into practice as an idea
and ideal on April 23, 1920.

Republicanism is the dominance of the will of the nation in the state order and administration. The
system envisaged by the principle of republicanism has a close and inseparable relationship with democracy.

Not every democracy is a republic, and not every republic is a democracy. The criteria here are the
existence of political parties and the holding of elections in a competitive, democratic, and legal manner;
The party or parties that provide the majority rule the country for a limited period of time. The Republic is
known as the most suitable regime for the development and establishment of democracy in a country.

Atatürk based the existence of a constantly developing republic primarily on the principle of being a
strong state, and insisted on the following main criteria to achieve this:

-National Sovereignty: Sovereignty will belong to the nation unconditionally.

-Full Independence: The Republic of Turkey will be a fully independent country in its economic,
financial, judicial, cultural, and military aspects.
-National Integrity: National Pact, all our citizens within our borders, regardless of their language,
religion, or race, are an integral part of our national integrity.
-Modernization: A lifestyle and management approach based on rational and scientific thought will
prevail.
-Secularism: It is the indispensable character of our Republic. Our understanding of state and
government will be based on the principle of secularism.
-Peacemaking: "Peace at home, peace in the world" will be our basic policy.

These thoughts of Ataturk constitute the main framework of our Republic. Atatürk showed the
Republic as his greatest work.

Republicanism is based on the principle that the nation retains its sovereignty unconditionally and
determines its own future. In Atatürk's understanding of Republicanism, there is the idea of establishing a
system in which every group can be politically represented in the country.

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 Republicanism was born as a political order and brought with it economic, cultural and social
regulations. In the republican order, it is essential to regulate the economy for the benefit of the people,
spread prosperity and develop culture.

Republicanism is intertwined with other principles, especially nationalism, populism and secularism.
Because Republicanism is a result of the society's awareness of nationalization and nationhood. Populism,
on the other hand, stems from the fact that the source of sovereignty is the people. A secular order based on
reason and science is a fundamental requirement of republicanism.
Nationalism
The idea of nationalism dates back to the French Revolution in 1789. Different definitions have been
made by experts about what nationalism is. For example:
- Nationality is the state of belonging to a nation and being affiliated with a nation. Nationalism is the
loyalty and consciousness that members of a nation have towards the nation they belong to.
-The feeling of nationalism is not just about attachment to the past and things in the past. There is a
field where the feeling of nationality is manifested, and that is the unity of aspirations, goals and
thoughts directed towards the future.
-Nationalism is the desire of people who consider themselves members of the same nation to live an
independent life together, within the same borders, and to glorify the society they form.

Atatürk defined "nation" as "a political and social community consisting of citizens bound together
by the unity of language, culture and ideals". According to him, the Turkish nation is a high human
community consisting of individuals who are related in language, homeland, origin, race, morality and
history, who inherit the good and bad aspects of a common past and who will act together with the same
feelings in the future.

Atatürk said, "The Turkish people who founded the Republic of Turkey are called the Turkish
Nation" and listed the elements that make up the Turkish nation as follows: a. Unity in political existence, b.
Linguistic unity, c. Integrity of the Homeland, d. Unity of race and origin, e. Historical proximity, f. moral
closeness.

“Either independence or death”, “The essence is for the Turkish Nation to live as a dignified and
honorable nation. The words "The dignity and honor of the Turk, his self and ability are very high" and "The
independence of the nation will be saved by the determination and decision of the nation" can be interpreted
as the basic principles on which Ataturk's Nationalism is based. Ataturk's understanding of Nationalism is
aimed at all nations gaining their independence.

Turkish Nationalism describes a homeland within national borders and does not harbor imperialist
ambitions. The basis of Turkish Nationalism is the cultural and historical values of the Turkish Nation that
founded the Republic of Turkey. The main reforms aimed at implementing the principle of nationalism are
as follows: a) All reforms related to the Principles of Republicanism and Secularism; b) Opening of the
Turkish Historical Society; c) Opening of the Turkish Language Association; d) Other revolutions in the
cultural field.

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 Populism
Populism means all the people living in the same country and connected to each other by common
interests, the human community that constitutes a nation. Populism, on the other hand, is the view and
attitude of not seeing any distinction of rights among individuals living in a country, not accepting any
privileges within the community, and recognizing a single and equal entity called the people.

The Ataturkist principle of populism is a natural consequence of the principle of republicanism and
nationalism, and is also the justification for other principles. Atatürk's populist thought and practices also
have a character specific to Turkey. The first characteristic of populism in Kemalism is to remain committed
to democracy; The second characteristic is not to grant privileges to any person or group other than the
general rights of the people; His third quality is not to accept class struggle.

Atatürk used the expression "populism" synonymously with the expression "democracy" in some of
his speeches. Populism is the administration of the people, by the people, for the people. The Republic is
actually a form of government by the people. Populism is a social policy principle that is adhered to by those
who give the people their rights and love the people.

Populism is a principle that protects the homeland from claims of privilege. There is no individual,
family, class or community privilege in populism. There is the principle of equal citizenship. Everyone is
equal before the law. Not granting any special privileges to anyone in public service is another prerequisite
for the principle of populism.

Atatürk's speech in 1923 is remarkable in terms of revealing his understanding of populism:

“Friends, you come directly from the popular classes that constitute our nation. You come chosen by them.
In this respect, you know closely the state of our country, its needs, the aspirations and sufferings of our
nation. The words you say and the measures you want to be taken will be evaluated as if they were spoken
directly in the people's language. The voice of the people is the voice of God." At this congress, Ataturk
stated that he saw the representatives of farmers, tradesmen, merchants and workers not as separate
segments of the population in competition with each other, but as representatives of the people who needed
each other and were in a position to live together.

The basic characteristics of Atatürk's understanding of populism can be summarized as follows:

➢ It considers all members of the nation as the owners of the country, without any distinction.
➢ It is democratic because it is based on the fact that national sovereignty and national will originate
from the people.
➢ It accepts individuals as equal before the law.
➢ It enables individuals to participate equally in state administration.
➢ It regulates the duties and responsibilities of the state to the citizen and the citizen to the state in a
modern and humane way.
➢ It guarantees the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people.
➢ It rejects the domination of one class over another class or classes.
➢ It aims to purify the nation from internal differentiation and prevent all kinds of separation and social
conflict.