What is the Republic Celebrating on its 100th Anniversary?

Although the official beginning of the Republic of Turkey is October 29, 1923, its ideological beginnings date back much further. The architect of the Republic project is Mustafa Kemal. Modernization and westernization date back to the Tanzimat. October 29, 1923 is a result whose ideological preparations predate it by almost 100 years.

The architect of the Republic, Mustafa Kemal, is a mind that designed the institutions of the new country that would be established even on the battlefields. He imagined a country that would be built on a strong education with science, art and scientific qualities. He guided the development plans of the first years of the Republic of Turkey in his mind and in his practices with the dream of creating generations with free ideas and free consciences. Moreover, he inherited a huge wreck from the Ottoman Empire.

In the period after 1923, a state-based development model was implemented as a necessity in the face of impossibilities. The principle behind development was revolutionism. A country that transformed from an ummah into a nation was established with the excitement and enthusiasm of achieving the dream of contemporary civilization.

The period after Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is a period in which Turkey deviated from its development path. The foundations of today's polarizations were largely laid after Atatürk. The reason for polarization cannot be sought only in anti-Atatürk ideas and formations. The groups that have vulgarized the name Atatürk under the name of Kemalism have also had very important negative effects on this development.

When we look at the point that the Republic has reached today from a broad historical perspective, we observe that the political dynamics that destroy social consensus and peace have been working continuously for almost 200 years. What is right can undoubtedly be discussed within the framework of the product of subjective thoughts. However, the results experienced are the result of the social philosophical will that has been put forward.

The philosophical question that confronted Turkey in the post-Ataturk period was: Will Turkey stand by democracy, human rights, science and art in the philosophy of political and social structuring, or will it be in the group of countries that have not made any progress in these areas? The answer to this bipolar philosophical question has found different answers in different segments of society. The reason for the lack of social consensus and the emergence of an environment of polarization beyond disagreement in today's conditions should be sought in these different answers of society.

What kind of a republic are we facing in its 100th year?

First of all, we are faced with a view of Turkey that is turning from the nation to the ummah again.

Turkey has largely lost its status as an emerging market in the economy. Instead, it has moved towards the status of a market with development potential but which has lost its developmental characteristics, called a frontier market.

There is no production structure that would underline the local and national expression that has become extremely fashionable in recent years. Turkey is dependent on foreign sources for production and has had no other dream than bringing short-term capital into the country for decades. The Republic set out with an extremely local and national idea as a development project.

Turkey's place in democracy indices is seen only one place above authoritarian regimes. Its report card, which has never been good in areas related to human rights, has become increasingly negative with its increasingly authoritarian regime.

In the years when the Republic was founded, instead of an understanding that cared about nature and agriculture, an understanding that destroyed nature and agriculture dominated the country.

There is a Turkey that is regressing in terms of law and therefore justice.

There is a Turkey where press freedom has regressed and a very large section of the press has come under the command of the political authority.

There is a Turkey that has not surpassed mediocrity in education.

We are faced with a Turkey that has failed in social morality.

I could continue the list. However, I prefer to stop here without further ado. Is there any need for further evidence to show how far we are from contemporary civilization?

The news that the 100th anniversary celebrations spread on social media were cancelled has been denied . But is it the point reached in 100 years that will be celebrated, or the 100th birthday of the Republic of Turkey? A person who has lost his health can also celebrate his birthday in a dejected atmosphere. The Republic is completing its 100th birthday in a dejected mood.

I have listed above some of the conditions that the politics that is finished with its government and opposition sees fit for Turkey. Rather than celebrating, I prefer to commemorate the will of 100 years ago.

Unless the celebration is a birthday celebration, you celebrate an achievement. I can't find anything to celebrate after 100 years. I have a hard time understanding what is being celebrated in the face of this sad scene.