The Republic and civilization

Great civilizations, deep-rooted cultures, and powerful states in the world have prioritized commonalities, similarities, and shared values rather than differences, contradictions, divisions, otherness, or fragmentation. They have sought and found ways to integrate, blend, synthesize, and melt these into a single pot. This is how they have developed and grown stronger. 

When it comes to cultural dynamism, it is observed that advanced cultures do not emerge from among those that have been least influenced by others, remained most closed to the outside, or tried to remain pure; rather, they emerge from among those that have engaged in intense interaction with others, and have both influenced and been influenced significantly.  

The Republic of Turkey; was founded by a leader who had fully internalized these scientific truths. Historical, geographical, social, and cultural realities made this a necessity. As our Republic martyr Ahmet Taner Kışlalı frequently emphasized, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk prioritized similarities rather than differences, and institutionalized commonalities rather than divisions.

With a consciousness of homeland, nation, and history, and through unity of language and culture, he aimed for the integration of the people and the formation of a nation. In our country, which draws attention with its cultural richness and diversity, he saw that a national synthesis could only be realized in this way. The establishment of the Faculty of Language and History-Geography within Ankara University in 1935 (the concepts in the faculty's name are the fundamental elements of the nation), the establishment of Sümerbank in 1933 and Etibank in 1935, and the naming of these banks after Anatolian civilizations are proofs of Atatürk's understanding of the nation and where he sought our historical roots. 

It must be reiterated that an advanced culture cannot be reached without overcoming feudal allegiances, ethnic, religious, sectarian, and regional identities, and remnants of the Middle Ages. One cannot be civilized. Great states cannot be established without forming larger, broader, and deeper unions. Great states are built by uniting, not by dividing. When past great empires are examined, it is seen that they grew and developed by embracing and incorporating the different. 

Especially when it comes to revolutionism, progressivism, and leftism, one must be even more opposed to division, fragmentation, and separation. Because a revolution cannot be made by fragmenting. A revolution is unifying. If it is not unifying, it cannot reach its goal. Revolutionaries must know this best. The French Revolution, the October Revolution, the Chinese Revolution, the Cuban Revolution, the Mexican Revolution, and the Turkish Revolution were all successful because they united, integrated, and brought people together.

Whether they carry the character of a bourgeois revolution, have a strong national democratic revolutionary direction, emphasize their class nature, or serve as an example for the revolutions of oppressed nations, all revolutions are unifying, and they must be so.

The opposite is also true, of course. Reactionary movements and counter-revolutionary maneuvers are divisive and fragmenting. This is true for Turkey, Russia, and Syria as well. Yugoslavia was divided in this way. The state of Iraq is evident. Because opening the door to federalism through feudalism, hiding behind the rhetoric that “differences are wealth” to promote identity politics, and weakening class politics is, in essence, serving imperialism. Strength, prosperity, wealth, and success are not found in separation, but in unity and solidarity. 

Prof. Dr. Barış Doster