Economist Prof. Dr. Duran Bülbül: Turkey found its own path in the economy thanks to Atatürk

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The İzmir Economic Congress is a congress formed by the gathering of representatives who were involved in and had a say in the country's economy.

Dr. Duran Bülbül's assessments are as follows:

Economy, agriculture, development, and industrial policies were all determined at this congress. We need to question why the İzmir Economic Congress is historically important because İzmir is a city where the victory ended, where the struggle for independence concluded, but it was completed in a bloody manner and heavy prices were paid. For this reason, İzmir is the place where victory was touched.

At a time when the Lausanne negotiations were still ongoing, the Republic had not yet been proclaimed, and the state's economic policies had not been determined, the İzmir Economic Congress came to the fore. The fundamental issue is that a message was intended to be conveyed to the Turkish world, to the Turks, and to the people at Lausanne. In other words, it was being stated what kind of state would be established and what that state's economic policy would be.

In fact, the occupation of İzmir was characterized as the beginning of the mobilization of organizations in Anatolia. If we do not grasp the İzmir Economic Congress correctly, we will not correctly understand the process related to industrialization. The foundations were laid there. Therefore, when we look at the İzmir Economic Congress, we are facing a process. We are talking about a congress of 1,500 people that gathered on February 10, 1923, with the participation of 1,135 delegates, including workers, farmers, and industrialists.

In this process, the foundations of the Republic of Turkey were laid. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk said there: "The Turkish state will be an economic state." He said it would be an economic state and would definitely focus on rise, not collapse. He was of the opinion that the fundamental problem was the economy. Therefore, under all conditions, at every moment, we must understand and apply the economy correctly, like our breath, like our life. For this reason, Turkey was not influenced in any way by the liberal thoughts or socialist movements developing in the world at that time. It created its own path, its own goal, and for the first time in the world, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk implemented the concept of a welfare state.

There was a struggle even before the Republic was proclaimed. In 1923, 1,135 workers, farmers, and industrialists gathered in many fields, totaling 1,500 people. The foundations of the Republic of Turkey were being laid, and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk definitely said there: "The Turkish state will be an economic state." He said it would be an economic state and would definitely focus on rise, not collapse. He was of the opinion that the fundamental problem was the economy. Therefore, under all conditions, at every moment, we must keep the economy on the right track, like our breath, like our life.

For this reason, Turkey was not influenced in any way by the liberal thoughts or socialist movements developing in the world at that time. It created its own path, its own goal, and for the first time in the world, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk implemented the concept of a welfare state.

In fact, we notice today that countries like China, France, and England are turning to this path and implementing the policies that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk commanded.

Because what was done in Turkey at that time was seen as a remarkable success on the world stage. It is necessary to emphasize that the İzmir Economic Congress was a significant turning point. The 1923 congress laid the economic foundations of the Republic of Turkey and served as a guide on issues such as industrialization and agricultural policies.

Under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Turkey entered a process of development and modernization at a speed unprecedented in the world. The economic policies, banking reforms, industrial incentives, agricultural policies, and regulations in other areas pioneered by Atatürk increased Turkey's independence and economic power. Atatürk not only thought about the future of Turkey but also presented an exemplary model to the world economy.

In particular, the development plans and economic reforms made after the İzmir Economic Congress contributed to Turkey playing a more effective role in the world economy. The industrialization moves, agricultural policies, and regulations regarding workers' rights made during this process enabled Turkey to strengthen economically and become a modern state.

It is a fact that the İzmir Economic Congress symbolizes a turning point that laid the economic foundations of the Republic of Turkey and that the economic policies under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk developed Turkey. This congress became an important milestone that shaped Turkey's economic future.

News Source: Gizem Yaralı