Philosophy of Kemalism
Summary
TLDRThis video explores Turkey's pivotal role in global politics due to its geographical position and evolving political landscape. It traces the country's journey from the establishment of the Turkish Republic by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to its modern challenges. The six foundational principles of Kemalism, including republicanism, nationalism, and secularism, are outlined, along with their evolution over time. The rise of political Islam, particularly under leaders like Erdoğan, has created tensions between secular and religious forces. The video also examines the ongoing battle between these ideologies, highlighting Turkey's dynamic political environment.
Takeaways
- 🌍 Turkey's geographical and political position makes it crucial for world stability, acting as a bridge between Europe and the Middle East.
- 🕌 Turkey's shift towards the Islamic faith began after the revolution led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in the early 20th century.
- ⚔️ Atatürk led a nationalist movement, fighting for independence after World War I and forming the Turkish Republic in 1923.
- 💡 Atatürk's political philosophy, Kemalism, was based on six principles: Republicanism, Nationalism, Populism, Statism, Secularism, and Reformism.
- 📜 Kemalism emphasized sovereignty by the people but did not always favor democracy as seen in the West, instead advocating for a strong state.
- 📉 Kemalism's approach to secularism was influenced by French laïcité, controlling religion to limit its public influence.
- 🔄 After Atatürk's death in 1938, debates within the Republican People's Party about the interpretation of Kemalism led to political friction.
- 🕌 In the 1970s, religious movements, particularly those led by Fethullah Gülen and Necmettin Erbakan, gained momentum, increasing Islam's role in Turkish society.
- 🔄 Turkey's politics saw tension between secularism and growing religious influence, with the military intervening to protect Kemalist principles multiple times.
- 📈 In the 21st century, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, influenced by religious movements, gained power with the Justice and Development Party, leading to the rise of 'Erdoğanism,' a rival to Kemalism.
Q & A
What role does Turkey's geographical and political position play in global stability?
-Turkey's position, bridging Europe and the Middle East, gives it a crucial role in global stability. Its location makes it strategically important in both regional and international politics.
Who was Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and what was his significance in Turkish history?
-Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was the leader of the Turkish nationalist movement and the founder of modern Turkey. He led the war of independence after World War I and established the Turkish Republic in 1923, implementing reforms based on secularism, modernism, and nationalism.
What were the six principles of Kemalism?
-The six principles of Kemalism are republicanism, nationalism, populism, statism, secularism, and reformism. These principles aimed to modernize Turkey by embracing Western ideas, focusing on self-determination, and promoting state intervention in the economy.
How did Kemalism interpret secularism, and how did it differ from Western models?
-Kemalism's secularism, influenced by French laïcité, meant state control over religion rather than separation of religion and state. The government controlled religious institutions like mosques to limit their influence on public life.
What were the economic policies implemented under Kemalism?
-Kemalism promoted state involvement in the economy through a principle called statism. The state monopolized industries like shipping and manufacturing, particularly in the 1930s, to drive economic growth.
How did Turkey’s political landscape shift after Ataturk's death in 1938?
-After Ataturk's death, there was increasing disagreement within the ruling party over the interpretation of Kemalism. This division, along with Cold War influences, led to the rise of Islamic movements and a weakening of Kemalist secularism.
What was the role of Islam in Turkey’s political development after the 1970s?
-Islam gained renewed importance in Turkish politics after the 1970s. Grassroots movements like Fethullah Gulen's and Necmettin Erbakan’s Islamist parties pushed for greater influence of Islamic values in governance, countering secular Kemalist principles.
How did Erdogan's rise to power reflect a shift in Turkey's political ideology?
-Erdogan's rise, with his Justice and Development Party (AKP) founded in 2001, marked a shift toward a more Islamic-influenced governance model, known as Erdoganism. This movement modernized Turkey but also challenged the secular legacy of Kemalism.
What are the key differences between Kemalism and Erdoganism?
-Kemalism is based on secularism, state control of the economy, and modernization through Western ideals. Erdoganism, on the other hand, integrates Islamic values into governance while also promoting economic growth and modernization.
What challenges has Turkey faced in balancing secularism and religious influence in its political history?
-Turkey has experienced ongoing tension between secular and religious forces. The military, as guardians of secularism, intervened multiple times to remove governments with religious leanings, but Islamic movements have grown in influence, especially with Erdogan's rise.
Outlines
🌍 Turkey's Geopolitical Importance and the Rise of Ataturk
Turkey, straddling Europe and the Middle East, holds significant influence in global politics. Its shift toward the Islamic faith began a century ago under the revolutionary leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who founded modern Turkey after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Ataturk led a nationalist movement that fought against foreign occupiers, establishing a new Turkish Republic in 1923. A modernist, Ataturk emphasized science, secularism, and rationality, drawing inspiration from Western ideals. His vision laid the foundation for the transformation of Turkey into a secular and nationalist state.
📜 Ataturk’s Six Arrows: The Foundation of Kemalism
Kemalism, Ataturk's guiding philosophy, was based on six key principles known as the 'six arrows.' The first was republicanism, where sovereignty belonged to the people, but not necessarily through European-style democracy. Nationalism, the second principle, focused on self-determination and rejected imperialism. Populism, the third arrow, emphasized people's government and national unity. Etartism, the fourth, advocated state control over critical industries, resembling socialist ideas. Secularism, influenced by French laicism, sought state control over religion to limit its public role. The final principle, reformism, allowed Kemalism to adapt to changing times, ensuring its longevity.
⚖️ Post-Ataturk Challenges and the Rise of Islamic Movements
After Ataturk's death in 1938, the Republican People's Party faced internal disagreements over Kemalism's interpretation, which deepened during the Cold War. The left saw it as a socialist, anti-imperialist movement, while the right used religion as a counterforce to socialism. This ideological divide weakened the party's control, leading to political instability in the 1960s. Islamic movements gained momentum in the 1970s, with figures like Fethullah Gülen and Necmettin Erbakan promoting religious education and governance. Their influence grew, leading to increased state-funded religious institutions and diminishing gender equality.
📈 Erdogan’s Political Rise and the Conflict Between Secularism and Islamism
Erdogan emerged as a powerful political figure, uniting Islamic movements and forming the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2001. Under his leadership, Turkey's economy grew significantly, and his party maintained strong political influence. Like Ataturk before him, Erdogan's modernization efforts boosted his popularity, but his focus was on Islamic values rather than secularism. This shift has led to the development of 'Erdoganism,' a political philosophy competing with Kemalism. Erdogan’s rise reflects an ongoing struggle between secular and religious forces in Turkey, shaping its modern political landscape.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Mustafar Kamal Ataturk
💡Kemalism
💡Republicanism
💡Nationalism
💡Populism
💡Etatism
💡Secularism
💡Reformism
💡Cold War
💡Erdoganism
💡Justice and Development Party (AKP)
Highlights
Turkey's geographical and political position plays a crucial role in global stability, straddling Europe and the Middle East.
Turkey's lean towards the Islamic faith began around a century ago, after the revolution led by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Ataturk led the Turkish nationalist movement and fought for the creation of a new Turkish Republic after World War I.
Ataturk's vision for Turkey was grounded in modernism, emphasizing science, rationality, and secularism.
Ataturk founded the Republican People’s Party in 1919, which became a pivotal force in Turkey's independence and modern development.
Kemalism, a political philosophy developed by Ataturk, was built on six principles: republicanism, nationalism, populism, etatism, secularism, and reformism.
Kemalism’s version of nationalism stressed self-determination and rejected imperialism or colonialism.
Secularism under Kemalism involved state control over religion, particularly to keep Islam out of the public sphere.
Following Ataturk’s death, internal conflicts within the Republican People’s Party led to differing interpretations of Kemalism, including socialist and right-wing factions.
In the 1970s, Islamic movements like Fethullah Gulen's and Necmettin Erbakan's gained prominence, integrating religious values into governance.
Islam became a stronger force in Turkish politics in the 1980s and 1990s, as the military and secularists continued to oppose religious influence in government.
In the 21st century, Recep Tayyip Erdogan capitalized on a changing geopolitical landscape, including Turkey's stalled EU membership and U.S. military actions in Iraq.
Erdogan unified Islamic movements and founded the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2001, which grew rapidly in political power.
Erdogan doubled Turkey’s GDP in his first six years in power and navigated the country through the 2008 financial crisis with relative success.
The ongoing struggle between secular and religious forces continues to shape Turkey's political landscape, with Erdoganism emerging as a rival to Kemalism.
Transcripts
having one foot in europe and one foot
in the middle east
turkey's geographical and political
position in the world
means it has a particularly important
role to play
in the stability of world politics the
country's steady lean towards the
islamic faith
is a story that started roughly a
century ago
when turkey was revolutionized under the
leadership of mustafar kamal
ataturk i'm your host
louis and welcome to caspian report
during world war one when the ottomans
were defeated and the british french
greeks
armenians and the italians occupied the
region
the turkish nationalist movement led by
ataturk
responded with a war of liberation
ataturk literally meaning father of the
turks
was a renowned military commander who
had led his troops defending gallipoli
during the great war his movement fought
for independence and the creation of a
new
turkish republic yet ataturk was a
modernist
who believed in science rationality
and secularism his nationalist movements
had its roots in the young
turks these were exiled students
and army officers who had training and
education in the west
and had also come to believe in ideals
like the scientific method
the enlightenment and the french
revolutionary tradition
that espoused universal rights and
citizenship ataturk founded the
republican people's party
in 1919 and against
all odds he pushed the foreign powers
out
in 1923 turkey
was born but under what
principles was this new state to be
developed
how would ataturk build a modern nation
to address this fundamental question
ataturk and his party designed what came
to be known as
kamalism a philosophy based around a
synthesis of western ideas
this was made up of six arrows
the first principle or arrow
republicanism
firmly established that sovereignty lay
with the people
there would be no more sultans but this
didn't necessarily lead to democracy
in the european or american sense
during the thirties under the shadow of
world war one in the great depression
western-style capitalism appeared to
many
as a failing system while parliamentary
democracy
seemed like a never-ending series of
squabbles
because of this kamalists favored a
strong
state and silenced and repressed many
opponents
and alternative parties which leads to
the second principle
nationalism this had a very different
meaning than it does today
nationalism simply implied that nations
had the right to self-determination
and that no nation has a right to expand
through imperial or colonial endeavors
it also meant that as was written in the
new constitution
the people of turkey regardless of
religion
and race are turks as regards to
citizenship
the third principle was populism again
something that has started to take on a
more nefarious meaning today
but had a more neutral definition at the
time
ataturk said in a speech in 1920 that
i believe the essential reason of our
existence now
has proven the general tendency of our
nation
and it is populism and people's
government
it is the taking over of the government
by the people
complementing the first two principles
then populism meant
that sovereignty lay with the people
within national borders
populism though also implies some kind
of
unity of the people turkish unity
should supersede class or religious
conflict
which led to the fourth principle
etartism
this was a belief in the power of the
state
to get involved in areas of the economy
that
private industry was incapable of or
proved inept at
managing inspired by the soviet union
without being communist
ethicism is ultimately a socialist
principle the fifth principle was
secularism the kamalist interpretation
of secularism had
more in common with french lacism than
the american understanding
lacism didn't mean the separation of
religion and the state
but the control of religion by the state
to keep it out of the public's fear by
for example controlling the somewhat 80
000
mosques in the country even though
muslims made up
97 percent of the total population
this had much in common with etartism
that the state should have control over
the direction of the country
and that islam was a conservative force
that needed to be kept in check like
most political concepts ataturk
recognized that political
interpretations change over time
reformism then would be the sixth arrow
the ability to adjust a political
movement to new circumstances
was critical to the success of all the
previous principles
so understood through these six
principles
new institutions were formed and a new
culture
was created but much of the population
was made up of the peasantry
who could neither read nor make sense of
this new culture
islam was also of course a dominant part
of their lives
for kamalism to be successful then
material and economic
gains would be fundamental the state
invested in
and monopolized many industries like
shipping and manufacturing
during the 1930s with great success
kamalism though has not been without its
critics
following the death of ataturk in 1938
the members of the ruling party
increasingly disagreed on the
interpretation
of the philosophy eventually following
the military coup
of 1960 the fringe factions within the
republican people's party
started turning against each other
left-wing party members started to view
chemism
as an anti-imperial socialist revolution
and like-minded university students and
the masses from the working class
sided with the left meanwhile
right-wing commandists became alarmed by
this socialist attitude
and used religion as a counterbalance as
they found support amongst the rising
middle classes
in anatolia in essence the friction was
a reflection of the cold war
where islam was used as an antidote to
communism
the discord between the left and the
right severely weakened the republican
party's grip over the government
and as a result over the next decade
turkey witnessed an era of radical
politics
it is during this era that new splinter
groups emerged
some of which fused with religious
groups
in the 70s islam regained momentum as an
important component
of the turkish identity two islamic
grassroots movements in particular
made significant gains one was
fetchula gulen's islamic movement
which was a progressive form of sunni
islamic theology that emphasized
education
and science it had a huge following
across the country
the other was nesmetin herbicans
islamist parties
some of which served in a coalition with
the republican people's party
both gulen and urbacan sought to use
state institutions to shape
public opinion in favour of islamic
islamic-based governance
in the following decades there was a
surge in the number of state-funded
religious schools in turkey
in addition religious practices and
customs increased
tolerance of non-practicing muslims
decreased
and gender equality declined in public
life
at the same time the military leadership
came to consider itself the custodians
of turkey's secularist
and kamalist ideology and thus continued
to keep
islamist ideas in check on four
occasions the military leadership ousted
civilian governments that flirted with
religious
ideas and each time the military
returned political power
to the civilian leadership at the turn
of the 21st century
religious influences entered the
political realm as the geopolitical
landscape
changed first european leaders retreated
from the eu's commitment
to accept turkey as a full member state
and second the united states launched a
military campaign in iraq
and reignited sectarian tensions in
turkey
the turkish public felt largely
abandoned
by the events erdogan whose political
career began with herbicans organization
aimed to capitalize on the changing
global and local landscapes
and offer the turkish public an
alternative to secular kamalism
having served as istanbul's mayor from
1994 to 1998
erdogan unified the top members of the
gulan and
erbikan movements and formed the justice
and development party
in 2001. in the ensuing years edowan
strengthened the position of his party
doubled turkey's gdp
in the first six years of government and
largely avoided the effects of the 2008
financial crash
like kamalism roughly a century earlier
rapid modernization has increased the
popularity
of edowan's policies and the
strengthening of his executive powers
in doing so erdogan formulated a new
political concept
named edewanism which was to rival
kamalism
for the heart and soul of turkey
yet if anything can be said of turkey's
turbulent political past
it's that the fight between the secular
and the religious forces in the country
is far from over
i've been your host lewis and if you
want to see more of my videos then check
out my channel
then and now through the link in the
description below
thanks to the caspian report community
on patreon
for giving us the means to produce new
content
if you want to gain access to perks like
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references and early access visit
patreon.com
forward slash caspian report all the
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independent and free of sponsors
and finally let us know in the comments
what you think of this collaboration
between then and now
and caspian report and if you'd like to
see more of it
thanks for watching
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