Why are Republicans populist and collectivist?

Economics is not a science consisting solely of numbers, figures, ratios, statistics, and charts. It is ideological. In fact, it is the most ideological branch of science. This is because how one views the relationships of production, property, and distribution is ideological. How the demands of developed, central, capitalist countries for markets, raw materials, and cheap labor are perceived is ideological. From whom taxes are collected, at what rate, how they are collected, and for which classes the collected taxes are primarily spent is ideological.

While defending a market economy, leaving the citizen to the mercy of the market and adopting a market society beyond even a market economy is an ideological choice. We cannot explain this situation through the conscience, mercy, compassion, or empathy of individuals. The analysis to be made and the answer to be given are ideological. 

In a society that has adopted capitalism and chosen liberalism, the fact that individuals are selfish, self-interested, individualistic, and ruthless cannot be explained solely by their character, personality, or psychology. The analysis to be made—the political and social analysis—must necessarily and primarily include an economic analysis. 

In a society that has adopted capitalism and liberalism, caring for those who start life at a disadvantage, the oppressed, and the poor; feeling sorry for them, striving for them, taking steps for them, making donations, establishing associations and foundations, and organizing campaigns are, of course, well-intentioned. They are commendable. But they are not effective in terms of society as a whole. Because this is a systemic problem. It has nothing to do with the charity, benevolence, or generosity of individual people.

THE INVARIABLE LAWS OF CAPITALISM AND THE PRINCIPLE OF ETATISM

In a capitalist order, in an order where liberalism prevails, enrichment is neither distributed equally nor fairly. On the contrary, enrichment develops in favor of one class and to the detriment of the other. As one class gets richer, the other class gets poorer. As the share one class receives from the national income increases, the share the other class receives decreases. Wealth does not mean wealth for the entire nation or the entire society. It breeds poverty for the majority of society. 

Capitalism must expand to the detriment of other countries, societies, and nations to maintain its existence. It must multiply its markets, access new markets, expand, diversify the markets it reaches, and exploit these places. It must reach cheap labor, cheap raw materials, and natural resources. It must establish influence, build dominance, and establish hegemony in other countries and societies. Otherwise, a crisis is inevitable. A depression is inevitable. An economic collapse is inevitable. 

Against all these negative consequences created by capitalism, etatism (state interventionism) is a very fundamental and very effective principle. Therefore, it is essential that Republicans defend and embrace the principle of etatism with great determination and consistency, and know that one of the definitions of the Republic is public-mindedness and planning. 

Because etatism advocates for the state's intervention in the economy and its presence in economic life as an entrepreneur itself. The organization and law of a strong nation-state is the most powerful mechanism to protect the citizen and the nation against foreign capital, multinational monopolies, and global corporations. The real issue here is who will manage this state, which economic policy preferences will be followed, and which classes will be in charge. 

Since fighting against giant global corporations with only unions or only socialist and communist parties will be insufficient, the power of the state and the state's intervention in favor of the laborers and the oppressed is mandatory. Therefore, without ever forgetting the fact that the state, by Marxist definition, is the instrument of oppression of the ruling class, one must be clear about in whose favor the opportunities, apparatuses, and power in the hands of the state will be used. 

WHO IS AGAINST ETATISM?

Etatism does not only include intervention in the economy or being an entrepreneur. It is more than that. Etatism does not only concern itself with growth; it focuses primarily and essentially on development. It does not only care about quantity; it gives priority to quality. 

A fair distribution of income, the elimination of the gap between classes, valuing labor, sweat, and human beings, and observing the priorities of the people in the economy with a populist, collectivist, and public-minded approach are the essence of the principle of etatism. Planning is essential for a national economy and for national, holistic, and sustainable development, and etatism is essential for such planning. Therefore, Republicans always defend the role of the state in the economy in parallel with the conditions, circumstances, opportunities, and priorities.

Etatism is essential for the country's resources to be used for the benefit of the nation. Etatism is necessary so that the state does not just settle for planning, legislating, and auditing, but is itself an entrepreneur, implementer, producer, and seller. When conditions require it, and when the needs of the citizens are at stake, as in the example of State Economic Enterprises (KİT) in the past, the state should be in the iron and steel sector as well as the textile sector. Especially when it comes to education and health, the state must absolutely be present. The state should provide services entirely, one hundred percent, in education and health. The state should be a monopoly in these areas. Education and health should not be left to market actors. The student and the patient are not customers. The teacher and the doctor are not marketing personnel. The school and the hospital are not businesses. The school principal, the chief physician, and the university rector are not CEOs. 

The Republic founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk has been targeted by reactionary-liberal forces, remnants of feudalism, remnants of the Middle Ages, and the imperialist powers that use them as apparatuses, due to its populist, revolutionary, collectivist, and public-minded character, its struggle against imperialism, and its enlightenment-oriented approach that prioritizes reason and science. These imperialist powers—the 'great powers' (düvel-i muazzama) as they were called in those days—used Sheikh Said, Seyit Rıza, and Said-i Nursi against the young Republic, just as they would use the PKK and FETÖ terrorist organizations in later years. 

Today, while thinking about privatizations, how sects and religious communities have turned into holding companies, and which forces, companies, and capital circles have come to the fore in education and health, one must also know who targets the populist and statist character of the Republic the most.