Turkey political system - Term Paper Example

Turkey political system November 28, Outline A. Introduction B. Interdiction, How the Ottoman Empire disintegrated C. Creation of the Turkey Republic D. Mustaf Kemal “Ataturk” and his Turkey-based concepts (Ataturk Movement) E. Kemalism F. Westernized the Turkey G.Western Changes and different changes. H. How the people accepted the changes I. Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi (APK) J. Turkey Today K. Turkish State and Islamic movement interaction L. Conclusion Theses: Turkey’s government transactions continue to change until today. Introduction The AKP Party runs the current Turkey government. Turkey gained its independence in 1922. Ataturk is recognized as the nation’s war hero. Turkey’s government transactions continue to change until today. Interdiction, How the Ottoman Empire disintegrated World War I contributed to the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. An Arab rebellion during the early 1900s led to the destruction of the Ottoman Empire. Consequently, Mustafa Kemal Pasha rose to power. Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) was instrumental in establishing Turkey’s independence during 1922 (Noble714). Creation of the Turkey Republic In Lausanne, a treaty affirmed Turkey’s July 1923 independence (War. Mustafa Kemal was elected as President in the same year (Gocek 116). The monolithic Turkey Republic implements a pluralism society (Hanioglu 33). The current authoritarian government strives to homogenize (impose uniformity) the communities by implementing the assimilation strategies (70). The government implements a federal millet political type (65). The society is characterized as including several competitive, voluntary, self-determining, as well as nonhierarchical sections. The government leaders don’t interfere with subsidized, acknowledged, form, or license of the constituents (62). Similarly, society includes the freedom to exercise different religious beliefs. Additionally, the Turkey government recognizes and allows the laws, costumes and traditions of each community to separately flourish. The Turkey society includes friendly cooperation among the Muslims, Christians, Jews, and other religious groups (64). Further, the Turkish government acknowledged the non-Muslim communities as equal members of society. One of the non-Muslim communities is the Greek community. Another community is the Armenian community. A third community is the Jewish community. Recognition of these communities is in line with Turkey’s compliance with the Lausanne Treaty. The Turkey nation includes other homogenous communities. The community includes the 15 million member Kurdish community. Furthermore, the other Turkish groups included immigrant communities. One of the communities is the Circassian community. A second community is the Albanian community. A third community is the Bosnian community. Georgia is another community. Moreover, the Turkish community is ruled by several political parties. One of the parties is the Justice and Development Party (AKP). The Islamic AKP party is a conservative party that espouses democratic ideals. The AKP government’s cultural and societal policies implements democratic religious concepts. Mustaf Kemal “Ataturk” and his Turkey-based concepts (Ataturk Movement) Mustafa Kemal or Ataturk is recognized as one of Turkey’s well known leaders. He founded the Republic of Turkey (Crossland, 1). Ataturk did not espouse the philosophical theories of Karl Marx. He did not propagate the political theories of Lenin. In fact, Ataturk did not directly espouse any philosophical theories. He never borrowed any philosopher’s theories. Moreover, Ataturk did not even create his own unique philosophies. Ataturk was more of a manager than a thinker. Ataturk was more of a pragmatist. Further, Ataturk did not imitate some of the Brazil government leaders’ positivism philosophies. A pragmatist is a person who decides on a case to case basis, not based on standard policies, theories, philosophies or procedures. Ataturk was a down to earth or practical leader. Ataturk used whatever resources that would help achieve his goals established goals and objectives (Hanioglu 33). Furthermore, the followers of Ataturk based his concepts on Mustafa’s masterpiece entitled The Speech. Mustafa’s entire body of concepts is based on one main philosophy, protecting the Turkish Republic from any aggressors. The protection includes defending against any invaders (Hanioglu 32). In order to gain the support of his constituents from 1919 until three years later, Ataturk embraced socialist ideals. During the same time period, Ataturk implemented some Islamist concepts. Ataturk used these political concepts in his desire to create an independent nation (33). In order to receive money and arms from the U.S.S.R’s Bolsheviks and the Muslims, Ataturk incorporated the nation’s Muslim and socialist concepts. To gain help from the Muslim nations, Ataturk used the word Sharia in his request for both financial and military intervention. Ataturk sought the Muslim nations’ help in order to protect Turkey’s Muslim communities. The Muslim communities of Turkey included the Circassians, Kurds and Turks. To gain the financial and military help of Russia, Ataturk did not contradict the Russian communist philosophies. Because of Ataturk’s refusal to contradict the communist philosophy, some Turkish residents embraced the communist philosophies. Moving further, one Turkish group was formed to espouse the communist philosophies. The group distributed the Kadro journal. The journal espoused the love for and compliance with communist philosophies (Hanioglu 34). Consequently, some ideologists insisted that the Ataturk democratic philosophy should be implemented by other nations. The nations will greatly benefit from the Ataturk democratic theories. The colonies in Asia can rise up to grab their long-sought independence. Similarly, countries in Africa can gain their right to gain freedom from their foreign government owners. To gain their own independence, the people of both Asian and African colonies should imitate Ataturk’s political strategies (Hanioglu 35). Ataturk espoused a classless society. Ataturk acted as the brain of the independence movement. Ataturk did not like his avid followers’ infusion of some of the Karl Marx philosophies into Turkey’s independence concepts. Some of Ataturk’s followers described his concepts. Some mentioned Ataturk’s political moves were grounded on a solidarist concept. Others classified Ataturk as a corporatist. Some followers believed Ataturk despised the concept of individualism. Other followers insisted Ataturk did not like the liberalism concept. A few Ataturk loyalists insisted Ataturk was not a socialism diehard (Hanioglu 36). Kemalism Kemalism is the implementation of Ataturk’s concepts. Ataturk is regarded as the Turkish people’s hero (Hanioglu 56). Kemalism is grounded on six principles. The principles are called arrows. One of the principles is republicanism. Republicanism continues to have the community’s popular support. Another principle is populism. Populism cropped up during the 1960s. The populism principle is connected to the nationalism principle. Ataturk’s nationalism incorporates science concepts (Hanioglu 50). A third principle is nationalism. Secularism is another popular principle. The other principles included statism and revolutionism. Kernalism is a middle range concept (Hanioglu 73). Under this philosophy, the followers believed in the one party political system. The followers of Kemalism believed that the presence of several political parties striving to run the government would result to chaos. The chaos would threaten the democratic environment of Turkey. In fact, Falih Rifki, one of Ataturk’s staunch loyalists insisted that the nation implement the U.S.S.R. socialism concepts. The Rifki faction believed that the fascist political concept would greatly benefit the Turkish people. One of Turkey’s presidents was politically charged and penalized for going against the Ataturk (Kemalism) theories (Hanioglu 37). During the early 1900s, Kemalism involved three major areas. One area is classified as scientism. Another area is adoption of Western ideologies. A third area is ensuring Turkey’s nationalism is prioritized. Kemalism is grounded on the Ottoman Empire’s embracing the authoritarianism philosophy (Hanioglu 37). Kemalism espoused scientology. Kemalism rejected religion. The followers of scientology prioritized the science-based philosophies. The scientology followers, including Ataturk, grounded their Scientology concepts on the German philosophical reference, Vulgarmaterialismus. Under the scientology philosophy, people like Ataturk believed that science, not religion, will cure the ills of society. The scientology concept indicated several strategies that would lead to a prosperous community. Kemalism insisted that science precipitated to the nation’s progress. On the other hand, religion prevented the nation from progressing to a better community environment. Ataturk accepted the concept stating religion was only a panacea. Ataturk accepted the concept that a person had crafted the religion panacea. Westernized Turkey In terms of Westernizing Turkey, Ataturk espoused the concept stating religion is the science of the common people. Ataturk also proposed that science is the religion of the bourgeois. Ataturk strove to eliminate religion as the people’s primary source of help for everyday issue resolution (Hanioglu Hanioglu 57). Further, Ataturk prioritized replacing the Islamic concepts with the Western society’s Christian concepts. Ataturk moved to eliminate the Islamic symbols for Turkish Society. Next, Ataturk imposed the implementation of Christian symbols on his subordinates. In addition, Ataturk instructed the adoption of the Western Gregorian Calendar. Ataturk ordered replacing the Turkish traditional fez with the European hat. Ataturk infused the French secularism concepts into Turkish society. Ataturk insisted that religion should be replaced by the French secularization concepts (Hanioglu 45). Furthermore, Ataturk infused the imported Western concept into the Turkish environment (Ciddi 103). Ataturk embraced the Western society’s science-based philosophies. Ataturk reiterated the importance of Western society’s combination of culture and civilization as part of Turkish daily life. He infused the Western culture’s good manners concepts into his subordinates’ itineraries (Hanioglu 46). Ataturk insisted that the inclusion of Western culture would bring beneficially significant change into the culture and society of Turkey (Hanioglu 47). The United States aided Ataturk’s protecting American interests in Turkey (Sellers 71). Western Changes and different changes. Additionally, some Western activities were incorporated into Turkish culture. One Western cultural act is the kissing of the lady’s hands. Another Western cultural tradition is spending time for home visits. Another Western culture custom was the celebration of the December 31 New Year. Lastly, another Western culture was engaging in health-bringing exercises. The Turkish people absorbed the Western culture’s etiquette standards (Hanioglu 47). How the people accepted the changes Further, the majority of the people did not accepted Ataturk’s changes. Most of the people refused to accept the Western culture, especially the Muslim residents. The People’s Houses as well as the People’s Chambers were not able to make the rural community accept many of Ataturk’s concepts, especially the Western culture concepts. Most of the people preferred to firmly hold on to their traditional way of life. Ataturk insisted that the constituents must accept the Western culture’s musical style, dress type, as well as head headgear (49). After Ataturk’s death, the new Turkish government leaders reintroduced the Ottoman Empire culture into the school’s textbooks, revising Ataturk’s Western culture’s science-based education concepts (Hanioglu 54). Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi (APK) The Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi (APK) is a political party. The party is also called the Justice and Development Party. The party’s concepts run counter to some of the Kemalist concepts. The APK espouses a market economy. The party is a modern society party. The party believes some Islamic groups are threats to the stability of the Party. The party integrates secularism with certain Muslim concepts. The rise of political power of the Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi (APK) indicates some Islamic groups’ reactions threaten the Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi’s hold to Turkey’s power (Cizre 7). Turkey Today Turkey today is embroiled in a territorial dispute with the neighboring Cyprus government. The issue arose between the Greek government leaders and Turkey’s AKP government leaders, in terms of their Eastern Mediterranean hydrocarbon mining. The Greece government ordered the establishment of an exclusive economic zone. Turkey’s AKP government felt the establishment of the zone was economically disadvantageous to the Turkish nation. Mining quarrel focused on the drilling of oil in the area. The democracy will produce de-bureaucratization and de-securitization of the Greek and other foreign issues (Sokullu 118). Further, Turkey’s AKP government prioritized creating cooperation and camaraderie with its Muslim neighbors. Turkey contributed its share to the resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli crisis. Turkey’s President Sezer visited Damascus to create close ties with its neighbors. The AKP government’s beneficial relations with Syria irked the United States (Sokullu 131). Turkish State and Islamic movement interaction The interaction between the Ataturk’s Turkish state and the Islamist movement in Turkey precipitated to variances in the interpretation of both the Kemalism as well as Islamism followers. Ataturk believed that the new Turkey society should have a unique political environment. The environment must avoid any religious dogma. Likewise, society must eliminate any myths, rituals or rites, especially religious traditions. Ataturk successfully made Turkey’s society prioritize science over religion (Hanioglu 41). Conclusion Summarizing, the present Turkey government is headed by the AKP political party. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, Turkey gained its rightful independence. Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) instrumentally led the nation’s fight for national independence. Overwhelmingly, the AKP Turkey government beneficially continues to transact by adhering to the political and other Turkish changes until today. Works Cited Website: Crossland, John. “Turkey’s Fundamental Dilemma”. History Today 38.1 (1988). Web 29 November 2013. Books: Ciddi, Sinan. Kemalism in Turkish Politics. New York: Routledge Press, 2008. Print. Cizre, Umit. Secular and Islamic Politics in Turkey. New York: Routedge Press, 2008. Print. Gocek, Fatma. The Transformation of Turkey. New York: Tauris Press, 2011. Print. Hanioglu, Sukru. Ataturk: An Intellectual Biography. New York: University Press, 2011. Print. Noble, T. Western Civilization. New York: Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. Obzudun, E., Turkey-Plural Society and Monolithic State. Web 29 November 2013. Sellers, George. Studies in Ataturk's Turkey: American Dimension. New York: Brill Press, 2009 . Print. Sokullu, E. Debating Security in Turkey. New York: Rowman & Littlefield, 2012.Print. Hanioglu, S., Historical Roots of Kemalism. Web 29 November 2013. Read More