Ideology · Nationalism

Kemalism

The Architect of the Republic

«Peace at home, peace in the world.»

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's project to build a modern Turkey on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire: a republic, a nation, strict secularism and a state that steers the economy. Radical reforms imposed from above, from the alphabet to women's rights, by a strong, centralized government.

In short

On the traditional scale, this ideology sits in the authoritarian center camp. The clearest positions are on religion: strongly towards “secularism”; sovereignty: strongly towards “sovereignty”; devolution: strongly towards “centralism”; state: strongly towards “authority”. On foreign policy it stays balanced. Among the other ideologies, the closest is civic nationalism (90%).

Principles

Strict state secularism
A sovereign, indivisible nation
Modernizing from above through radical reform

A republican, secular, national state that modernizes the country from above and steers economic development.

Common criticisms

Imposed modernityThe reforms were imposed by force, suppressing opposition and religious dissent.

Minorities deniedA single national identity denied Kurds and other minorities their rights for decades.

Military guardianshipThe armed forces justified several coups in the name of the Kemalist republic.

Where it comes from

It was born with the Republic of Turkey, founded by Atatürk in 1923; his party's "six arrows" (republicanism, nationalism, populism, statism, secularism and revolutionism) were written into the Constitution in 1937.

Key figures: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

Further reading: Nutuk (The Great Speech) — Mustafa Kemal Atatürk; Atatürk — Andrew Mango