Critical Response On The rise of Nationalism After WWI

Question: Discuss the new reforms that defined “Kemalism” in Turkey, give two examples. Do you think these were successful? Why/Why not.

Aside from being the founder of modern Turkey, Kemal Atatürk, in his 15 years of presidency, laid the groundwork for his country’s ideology, known as Kemalism, through a broad range of sweeping and swift reforms. The principles, which were unparalleled in any other country and enshrined in the Turkish constitution of 1937, included nationalism, republicanism, statism, populism, revolution, and secularism (207). After defeat in the First World War, Kemal Atatürk embarked on a mission to galvanize his people and transform the social and legal systems of Turkish life. After having settled within the national borders, Atatürk sought to develop his country’s cultural and social policies.

Concerning cultural reforms, Atatürk’s view was to create a creative legacy that, in his view, contained the best values in the civilized world. True to his aspirations, Turkey is one of the few countries in the world known for its national heritage, and that is open to world civilization (201). To give his nation a new sense of dignity, belonging, and equality, Atatürk resolved to introduce social reforms such as a secular government and education to modernize the state and help its people out of the crumbling past. As a result of these reforms, Turkey, unlike other nations, has strong and entirely secular institutions.