The Role of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Republican Turkey

Abstract

Republican Turkey is a great country with a crucial geostrategic position, and rich historical past and present. In recent decades, Turkey has developed its economy to such a level that the prediction “Turkey will enter the 21st century as one of the most developed countries”, has been realized. The official doctrine of the government of the Republic of Turkey, known as Kemalism, is based on the principles of Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic and a great reformer. Historical development of modern Turkey cannot be imagined without the figure of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881–1938). He began to rule the country in the most difficult years (1918–1923) and is considered as the founding father of republican Turkey. The extraordinary impact of Atatürk is attributable to the fact that he was simultaneously a military man, a defender of religion, a statesman, and a revolutionary.