The birth of Kemalism

Throughout his life, Atatürk dedicated himself to the Turkish Revolution and always spoke of it. Starting from the years of the War of Independence, he established the Turkish Republic and initiated a great transformation in our country. This great transformation in our country was called the Kemalist Movement or Kemalism. While the national resistance in Anatolia was ongoing, the Istanbul Government preferred to refer to those who gathered around this great leader as "Kemali," likening them to the Celali rebellions that emerged in Anatolia under Ottoman rule in the 16th and 17th centuries—during the reign of Yavuz Sultan Selim—due to economic, social, military, and political reasons, and which erupted as a result of the deterioration of state authority, the unbearable tax burden on the people, bribery, oppression, and the increase in nepotism. Calling them "Kemali" by likening them to the Celalis, who were the rebels of the 16th-century Ottoman period, was actually done to belittle those who gathered around Mustafa Kemal. However, Westerners described the liberation movement led by Mustafa Kemal as "Nationalists" or "Millici," and named this national movement the Kemalist Movement or Kemalism because of Mustafa Kemal.

In his report dated September 28, 1920, sent to Foreign Secretary Lord Curzon, the British High Commissioner in Istanbul, Admiral Robeck, spoke of the "Kemalist Movement" and "Kemalism." It was stated that the delegation intended to be sent to Anatolia with the Istanbul Government should enter into negotiations with the leadership of the Kemalist movement, and this movement was defined as "Kemalism."

In fact, Atatürk did not like the struggle of the War of Independence to be named after him. However, the term "Kemalist" began to be used by both Muslim communities and foreign researchers after the victory that resulted in the expulsion of the Greeks from Anatolia, partly to congratulate Mustafa Kemal and Turkey.

In reality, Kemalism is the second name of the Turkish State. The success of the War of Independence was always spoken of and named as the "Kemalist Victory." The most important development regarding Kemalism was seen at the 4th Grand Congress of the CHP held in May 1935. With the inclusion of the principles of statism and revolutionism in the party's 1931 congress program, the number of main principles to be followed was increased from four to six. In the 1935 Congress Program, it was stated that Turkey was a "Nationalist, Populist, Statist, Secular, and Revolutionary Republic." All the principles carried out by the party were decreed as the principles of Kemalism and officially announced.

All the principles to be followed by the founder of the Republic and the CHP, which had been in power since that day, gained official status as the Principles of Kemalism. Kemalism came to life as a movement of resurrection and renewal.

In those years, in magazines published by the state to introduce Turkey to the outside world, the country was referred to as "Kemalist Turkey." Again for the same purpose, in the "Turkey Album" published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1936 in four languages—Turkish, French, German, and English—Kemalism was defined as:

"The ideological sect of the Republic of Turkey. The way this sect perceives the world is European; but its foundation is Turkish."

Kemalism is, in a sense, the rebirth of the Turkish nation in history, and in another sense, a critique of European culture according to the conditions of time and space. The year 1936 became a turning point in the naming of Kemalism, and this name began to be used in state publications outside of the CHP. In the definitions and evaluations made, it was emphasized that Kemalism was not only a political ideology but also a cultural revolution.

For example, Celâl Bayar, who was appointed Prime Minister in November 1937, stated in the government program he presented to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) that the Republic of Turkey and especially the principle of statism were a requirement of the Kemalist regime. After Atatürk's death, the term "Kemalist regime" was also used in the government program established during İsmet İnönü's presidency. Falih Rıfkı Atay, the chief columnist of Ulus newspaper, also frequently used this term. In his article dated June 21, 1937, he stated that Kemalism had won the struggle for civilization it had fought in every respect. While some changes were made to the party program at the CHP Grand Congress held in May 1939, the name "Kemalism" was preserved. At the end of the introduction section, the phrase "The principles that are essential to the party are the path of Kemalism" was included.

From the 1930s onwards, the Kemalist Revolution, in particular, was referred to as "Kemalism." Kemalism is the name of a democratic regime based on human dignity.

PROF. DR. DURAN BÜLBÜL