Single-party period of the Republic of Turkey
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The single-party period of the Republic of Turkey begins after the Turkish War of Independence with the deceleration of the Republic on October 29, 1923. The Turkish War of Independence covers the establishment of the Turkish national movement and the Grand National Assembly of Turkey which declared the republication form of governance with Mustafa Kemal as its first president. The single party, Republican People's Party (Turkey) was established on 9 September 1923.
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[edit] 1923-1938: Atatürk ("Eternal Chief")
After the foundation of the Liberal Republican Party by Ali Fethi Okyar, religious groups joined the liberals and consequently, widespread bloody disorders took place, especially in the eastern territories. The liberal party was dissolved on 17 November 1930 and no further attempt at a multiparty democracy was made until 1945. Turkey was admitted to the League of Nations in July 1932.
[edit] Reforms
[edit] 1927 Census
The first census of the republic was on 1927. The census gathered data about literacy, economic and social values.
 Population Density, corrected |
 Population Density |
 Taxation |
 Widowhood |
 Adults |
 Literacy |
[edit] 1938-1950: İnönü (National Chief)
Atatürk's successor after his death on November 10, 1938 was Ismet Inönü. Ismet Inönü was a strong believer in caution and preparation in state management. During his presidency, two forces continuously counter acted with each other. One group wanted to increase the control over state functions, another group wanted to debate domestic and foreign affairs. Inönü's main legacy was the method he left to Turkey to balance these forces.
Inönü did not have too much chance to play among these forces, as the WWII was just about to fall on his shoulders. What we know from the history, he chose the first side, and he increased his control over the state. We also know that his control moved a big group of politicians, journalists, landowners and elites from different segments to the other opposing side. The political pendulum moved beyond what was expected from it and this first generation republic elites became the source of 1961 constitution. Even though the movement of the pendulum was beyond Inönü's control, the design of the pendulum can be easily attributed to him.
The national chief period can be seen like an intersection in the history of Turkey. His policies were unique in the sense that instead of following complete suppression of expression or fully representative democracy, he personally forced the system into multi-party politics. Politics of Anatolia did not yield to personal politics because of the geoplitical position. And maybe it did not fit to Inönü's way of taking secure steps, in a place full of unexpected turns. History of Ottoman Empire shows that Turkish state can not change its politics with its neighbours as easily as it can change a sultan. However, the Turkish state needed a leader to mobilize the nation for its own strategic goals. Turkey needed a leader without having the full control of presidency. Multi-party project gave that chance to Turkey. Multi-party politics was shaped during Inönü's watch. In multi-party politics, as shaped in Turkey, there is a leader who controls a party that is balanced with other parties. Besides the definition of presidency, it also produced different definitions of freedom, equality, and justice. Multi-party politics introduced coups into the system, which acts as mandatory shift in the political party design. If we say Atatürk defined the nation, Inönü defined the politics of that nation.
[edit] Politics before WWII
[edit] Politics of WWII
Turkey decided to remain neutral. Turkey thus remained safe for the majority of the war, and as defeat seemed evident for Germany, the Turkish Republic declared war on Germany and also Japan in February 1945. Very few Turkish troops took part in battle.
[edit] Politics after WWII
[edit] Notes
[edit] See also
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