Turkey turns 100: A moment of pride at a challenging time for the nation

Founded in secularism – this strong republic will face further change – religious groups are on the rise at home, it has joined NATO but not the EU, and this is its story so far

Majalla

Founded in secularism, this strong republic faces further change. Religious groups are rising, it has joined NATO but not the EU, and has yet to resolve the Kurdish question. This is its story so far.

Turkey turns 100: A moment of pride at a challenging time for the nation

Omer Onhon

last update on 29 Oct 2023

The Republic of Turkey was founded on 29 October 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the leader of the victorious nationalists who brought the nation as we know it into being, having won a war of independence against invaders.

Built on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire, the new republic inherited a deep history, along with all the problems that can bring, especially to a people worn out by continuous wars. Atatürk looked to the West as he chose his model for a modern, developed nation, where he saw progressive and industrialised countries, while the East was decaying.

And so, over the next two decades, the republic's founders abolished the caliphate and closed religious sects and congregations. They adopted a new civil code and switched to the alphabet used in the West. Even the clothes favoured in that part of the world came into fashion, replacing traditional Eastern styles.

The education system was secularised and embraced science. It gradually brought up the literacy rate, from levels of around only 10%.

In 1934, women got the right to vote and stand in elections. Turkey was one of the first countries in the world to do this, putting a Muslim country at the forefront of such progressive change, a huge and admirable step.

shutterstock — Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder Turkish Republic

Roads and railway lines, factories and industrial facilities were built as part of the effort to build a modern economy. And 100 years later, Turkey has become one of the biggest economies in the world, worth over $900bn dollars in gross domestic product by 2022.

The republic's founders abolished the caliphate and closed religious sects and congregations. They adopted a new civil code and switched to the alphabet used in the West.

It was not an easy process. The republic has faced many challenges throughout its life, at home and abroad. As the Republic of Turkey enters its second century, Al Majalla looks at the internal and external forces that have shaped a complex and unique nation. This is a look at its story so far.

Democratic secularism and religious influence

Turkey's secular founding principles have faced challenges from successive conservative political parties and governments.

This pressure has grown under the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which has been in power since 2002, with religious discourse and practices becoming stronger in politics.

Demographics have played a role. Large-scale migration from rural areas to cities, ongoing since the 1950s, has changed the country's social and economic structure. It has created major implications for national discourse.

The people of the towns and villages tend to be mainly conservative and have formed the core voter base of the conservative political parties. They have mixed Islamism, Ottomanism and religious nationalism into an alternative to the nationalist, secular system of modern Turkey.

When it began, the republic was a one-party autocracy. It transformed into a democracy, starting with its first multi-party elections, which were held in 1950. While there has been the occasional coup, Turkish democracy has survived, and the military has always returned power to civilian rule.

Even so, the military sees itself as the guardian of the republic, and maintained a watchful eye on politics and politicians, until AKP curbed its powers through a mix of methods.

Ever since, various conservative and religious elements have been on the rise, mostly inspired and led by Erdoğan's AKP. Lifting restrictions on headscarves – which had become a symbol of political Islam – and the opening of Hagia Sophia as a mosque in 2021, have been significant and symbolic victories.

Various conservative and religious elements have been on the rise, mostly inspired and led by Erdoğan's AKP. Lifting restrictions on headscarves – which had become a symbol of political Islam – and the opening of Hagia Sophia as a mosque in 2021, have been significant and symbolic victories.

International geopolitics

Turkey's geostrategic importance has helped define its history, as was the case with the Ottoman Empire.

During World War II, the second President of the republic, İsmet İnönü, used all his diplomatic skills to keep Turkey out of the conflict, which he believed would be destructive for his new nation.

After the war, Turkey faced the threat of its neighbour and historical rival, the Soviet Union. Its leader, Stalin, claimed some parts of eastern Turkey, as well as the Turkish Straits.

Turkey found some security in joining NATO, the joint defence pact between mainly Western nations, in 1952. It has remained an important part of it ever since.

The collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War in the 1990s created a whole new world. Within it, Turkey rediscovered the Middle East and the Balkans and its Turkic kin in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Since then, Turkey has been faced with new opportunities, but also new risks and challenges, informed by these new opportunities that come along with Atatürk's legacy of taking the country closer to the West.

A question of Europe

Even though Turkey has been westernised in many ways – and grown into a developed democracy – it has failed to join the European Union. Membership negotiations, which started in 2005, have stopped.

The EU claims Turkey has not abided by its commitments and is drifting away from Europe. Turkey argues it is treated unfairly and is being pushed away. For many Turks and Europeans alike, the real reason revolves around size and culture. It is said that Turkey is "too big and too Muslim" for EU membership.

Whatever else, there are major areas of strain between Turkey and the EU over the rule of law and human rights, alongside the Kurdish issue.

Kurds are said to be between 10% and 12% of the population of Turkey. They are an inseparable part of the nation, but there have always been calls for more rights for them. But throughout, terrorism from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has been a major threat to Turkey for 45 years. This problem also forms a major aspect of Turkey's involvement in the crisis in Syria.

For many Turks and Europeans alike, the real reason it hasn't been accepted into the EU revolves around size and culture. It is said that Turkey is "too big and too Muslim" for EU membership.

Foreign affairs

Turkish foreign policy under Erdoğan and the AKP has been assertive, and contentious, including within the country.

Almost all segments of Turkish society have hailed its support for Azerbaijan's liberation of Karabakh. But many Turks are highly critical of what is regarded as policies centred on "political Islam and Muslim Brotherhood".

AKP's foreign policy regarding the Middle East has been in sharp contrast to the traditional policy of the republic, which can be summarised as not getting involved in the internal disputes of the Arab world and the region.

Recent shifts in Erdoğan's policies have been interpreted as him finally appreciating the merits of the previous cautious approach. The most recent conflict in Palestine may have influenced his new approach.

Israel's actions against Palestinians have caused fury in Turkey, and the government is trying to walk a thin line between supporting the Palestinians and maintaining relations with Israel and its supporters in the West.

AFP — Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, wearing a scarf with the Palestinian and Turkish flags, stands on the stage during a rally organised by the AKP party in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza in Istanbul on October 28, 2023.

Israel's actions against Palestinians have caused fury in Turkey, and the government is trying to walk a thin line between supporting the Palestinians and maintaining relations with Israel and its supporters in the West.

Attempted coup and constitutional change

A coup attempt in 2016 was a turning point in Turkish history. The bloody uprising, which involved parts of the army, was the work of a religious group led by a former cleric, who had been living in the United States for two decades.

After the coup was defeated, Erdoğan seized the moment and ran a referendum on changing to a presidential system. He won the backing of the people at the polls.

Erdoğan's case for the change was that Turkey needed a functional and easy-to-make decisions system in what he called "in the upcoming Turkish century". Opponents claimed his real motivation was to establish his rule for a long time to come.

Whatever happens next, Erdoğan has already ruled Turkey for 20 years or one-fifth of its life as a Republic.

AFP — Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan (C) and his party's allies greet his supporters following his victory in the second round of the presidential election at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, on May 29, 2023.

What happens next?

As it heads into its second century as a republic, Turkey's politics is polarised. The divide between secular Turks and conservatives is deep. There is mutual resentment.

Erdoğan has a major project in his latest term in office, having won the 2023 election: A new constitution.

He says he wants it to be "the most free constitution".

But his opponents are sceptical. They argue he aims to complete the transformation of the republic to a different structure from the one established by Atatürk a century ago. And there are different ideas of what any new constitution might bring among Turks, based on their party loyalties and ideological leanings.

Some expect a move to an authoritarian and Islamic republic. Others talk of a deeper commitment to democracy, where rights and freedoms of all citizens are safeguarded.

In its 100 years, the Turkish Republic has matured and become strong. But it still needs to deal with some major issues which will determine its future.

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