The role of the economy in building a national welfare state

Despite insufficient capital accumulation and the inherited economic wreckage, the revolutionary economic policies resolutely pursued by Atatürk were groundbreaking, far exceeding the monotonous and standard recommendations of liberalism. It is clearly evident that a unique and pioneering economic policy was pursued by Atatürk in Turkey, one that would serve as an example for all underdeveloped countries.

The principles adopted in the development process with the Kemalist Economic Model, which was implemented with a revolutionary attitude, can be listed as follows:

* State intervention was seen not as a preference but as a necessity in the country's development process.

* State intervention was carried out in a planned manner, all policies pursued were effectively coordinated, and scarce resources were utilized in the best possible way.

* The economic reality of the time was recognized, there was no chasing of illusions, and the climate of inflation that misleads and deceives the individual and society was avoided.

* The public sector and the private sector took part together in the economic development movement; neither dominated the entire economy.

* Efforts were made to ensure that individual interests were formed with an equal sense of justice; in the distribution of national wealth, a perfectionist understanding of justice was adopted, and the higher welfare of those who put in the effort was seen as essential for the preservation of national unity.

* Ensuring national independence was seen as both a fundamental goal and a cause for which national consciousness was kept sensitive and vigilant to protect.

* The political content, which included libertarian and democratic principles, was seen as the most important element of the open regime.

* Throughout this entire economic development process, love for humanity was taken as a basis; the approach was humanist and peaceful.

* Both class exploitation and state exploitation were clearly opposed; the supremacy of labor was adopted in both areas.

* It was recognized that a successful development breakthrough could not be independent of international cooperation. Atatürk developed a new and unique economic management system by realizing the inadequacies of both liberalism and socialism, which were the models implemented until that day, in order to achieve economic development. In his book titled "Civic Knowledge for the Citizen," written by Atatürk and published in 1929, he brought radical criticisms to both liberalism and socialism. Stating that socialism is an economic management system whose failure has been clearly seen in recent history, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk also criticized capitalism with the words: "The individual living alone is criticized for being based on a dream construct; an economic order cannot be established by free competition alone; those who think it can be are letting themselves be deceived by a mirage." Atatürk saw that the capitalist order was based on unrealistic ideas such as the "individual living alone," and the socialist order on the "state abstracted from individuals," and argued that both orders were contrary to human nature.

Atatürk's economic policies cannot be thought of separately from the pragmatic-democratic ideal of Kemalist thought. These policies, which would ensure the development of the Turkish nation with an understanding of solidarity between classes within social justice, are not limited to just an economic model but also include a social policy. In this respect, Kemalist economic policies are not temporary policies seeking cyclical solutions to experienced economic problems; on the contrary, they are a rational, pragmatic, unique, nationalist, scientific, and permanent school of thought put forward to save Turkey from a backward semi-colonial economy and to base the country's political and cultural independence on its economic independence.

The Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was aware that for economic policies to succeed and for the targeted economic development to be achieved, the participation and belief of the public in this process had to be ensured; knowing that economic development is, above all, a matter of faith, he worked to ensure the public's participation in this process with faith.

Development, beyond economic growth, is a structural change; it necessitates a change in mentality and public participation in addition to the change in economic structures. The truly difficult part of this process is ensuring the change in mentality. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk saw this reality in 1924:

"Our country, which has had to spend the yield of the work done for many years, has started its future-oriented work in a strong position economically. The desire to work in economic affairs, the justified and deep sense of trust in the productivity and abundance of our lands, is felt by all the children of the country, whether poor or rich. This awakening, which is very important in terms of economic progress, must be protected by encouraging laws and regulatory measures to be issued by the Grand National Assembly and the government."

Prime Minister İsmet İnönü also shared the same opinion as Atatürk:

"It is our firm decision to awaken the consciousness of all our citizens who have the capacity to understand and to bring all the powers of the state into action for this cause."

It is not too late for anything; we can do it now as well. As long as we draw that will and power from within ourselves. Against global exploitation and occupation, let us believe in and implement economic nationalism and welfare nationalism for a national welfare state once again.

The solution is; THE PATH OF MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATÜRK, THE THIRD WAY.