A message on the second century from İlber Ortaylı: 'The issue the Republic must pay attention to from now on...'

Renowned historian İlber Ortaylı penned an article in Hürriyet on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Republic.

Ortaylı shared the following in his article:

"In fact, let us focus on two dates. One is his realization that the central committee of the Committee of Union and Progress (İttihat ve Terakki) was entering into serious conflict and embarking on a path that would make the dictatorship of the Sultan Abdul Hamid II era seem mild. His prejudices on these matters are very deep. Just as he knew the temperaments of his close friends well, he was also able to recognize the military and civil officials he was in contact with. For this reason, it is clear that he did not approve of party dictatorship from 1911-12, when he saw this chaos while serving as chief of staff of the Action Army (Hareket Ordusu)." "The issue the Republic must pay attention to from now on is: to eliminate nepotism and cronyism."

"WE SEE THIS AS THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE"

Ortaylı shared his thoughts as the Republic enters its second century as follows:

"The issue the Republic must pay attention to from now on is to eliminate nepotism, cronyism, favoritism, and parochialism in employment. This disease exists not only in the public sector but also in the private sector. What the Republic will achieve from now on is for the national intellectual class to attain intellectual standards, and for its existing sense of humor and boldness to be applied to life. Turkey's intellectual class is not a class but a stratum, a group, but it must be an independent group. They should be people who do not change direction in the service of parties, but who guide them. We see this as the most important feature. Its realization was undoubtedly impossible in the young Republic, which was founded upon an empire. Why should it not be possible from now on?"

News Source: 12punto