ATATÜRK'S REVOLUTIONARY PRINCIPLE

OVERVIEW:

Atatürk's principles and reforms are a complete and perfect whole. One completes the other. Even if it is possible to think and evaluate one separately from the other, it is not correct. Because it is rational. He is a scientist. It is realistic. The source of Atatürk's principles are revolutions. The spirit and mentality that dominate them are constructivism and creativity. It takes its power from facts, reason, science and experiment (technology). It achieves successful results by executing thought and action together. Like this; science and truth are balanced with thought and action, forming the Kemalist ideology. These, with their solid foundations, give spirit, shape and direction to a brand new state.

In the Kemalist Thought System, revolutionism moves from a nationalist view. It expresses a history, a culture and a civilization. More precisely, it is a total progress, innovation and modernization. The motor power of the principles as a whole, the energy power is revolutionism; It gives dynamism. On the one hand, it aims to strengthen and preserve the state it has created. On the other hand, he tries to keep up with the course of the civilized world. In addition, it adopts the ideal of service to the world of humanity by going above contemporary civilization.

In our age, against the development of science; From culture to social structure, almost everything is developing and changing. The only way out of this is to adopt a civilization that is a whole. It is always to renew towards the better, the beautiful, the truth and the perfection. This; It is necessary for a person, society and a nation to live strong and dignified. However, it takes place with revolutionism, which is the very essence of life. Revolutionism, in its broadest sense, shows its effect in the field of national culture. It is based on the principle of walking forward, more perfect. A culture that does not progress in thought and activity loses its vitality.

DEFINITION OF THE REVOLUTION:

We find this definition best in Atatürk. Atatürk says: “What is the Turkish revolution? This revolution, apart from the meaning of revolution that the word indicates at the first moment, expresses a wider change than it. The shape of our state today has been the most developed style that has eliminated the old forms that have been coming for centuries.

“The nation has regarded it as a principle that the science and means that will be the reason for life and the cause of strength in the field of international general struggle can only be found in contemporary civilization.

“As a result, as a natural and necessary consequence of the changes and revolutions I have mentioned, the nation has considered its general administration and all its laws to be an administration that will continue throughout its life with its worldly mentality, which is inspired by worldly needs and which is based on the constant change and development of need.”

“These changes that our great nation has brought about in the course of its life are among the most tremendous revolutions that are much higher than any revolution.”

When we look at Revolutionism from Atatürk's point of view, we see this. Revolution is progress, innovation and modernization under all circumstances. It means eliminating the institutions that are behind the times. It is to bring advanced and developed institutions in their place. While making all these innovations, it will be essential to rely on nationalist and civilizationist foundations. For this reason, Atatürk:

“Revolution means to change the existing institutions by force. It is to destroy the institutions that have left the Turkish nation behind in the last centuries, and to put new institutions in their place that will enable the nation to advance in accordance with the highest civil requirements. 2

Purpose of Revolution:

The purpose of revolutionism; It is to prevent the Turkish society, or rather the Turkish Nation, from stopping, regressing and looking back. It is to raise the social and cultural life above the age. It is always walking towards innovation. Of course, such thought and action aims at modernization; satisfies the longing for contemporary life. Civil and humane life is the most natural right of man and humanity. This requires a lot of work.

FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF THE REVOLUTION:

Revolutionism rests on two major foundations. These are nationalism and civilizationism.

Civilization constantly invites us to western civilization. Nationalism, on the other hand, enables us to find ourselves and gain our identity by learning our roots. With the fusion of both, our national existence becomes stronger. A brand new and strong Turkish body is created. Great Atatürk accepts nationalism as one of the main pillars of the idea of ​​revolutionism. As a matter of fact, he always expressed nationalism, from his conversations to his country tours and his speeches at various times and places. He carefully and diligently focused on terms such as national spirit, national consciousness, national sovereignty, national will, national power, national morality, and national economy. He believed that creating a national spirit in the nation was necessary for revolutionism. From his birth to his death, he never left this thought.

As it is known, on the foundation day of the Grand National Assembly in 1920, Mustafa Kemal Pasha said: “In order for our nation to live happily and independently, the state must follow a completely national policy and this policy must be completely in agreement with and based on our internal organization.” 3

In fact, nationalism is the pillar of the Kemalist Thought System. It cannot be considered separately from any of the Revolution and its principles. Indivisible unity becomes meaningful with nationalism. There is only one subtlety that should never be forgotten. That is, Atatürk's nationalism carries out the national feeling and the human feeling together. Nationalism, which is aggregating, unifying, integrative and uplifting, is literally Turkish. As a matter of fact, Atatürk;

He says, “In every corner of Turkey, there has been a revolution and revolution, a struggle to attain true Turkishness...”4. Another basic element in Revolutionism is civilizationism. Great Atatürk, in his speech in 1925 in Kastamonu, due to the hat revolution:

“...Lords, O Nation! Know that the Republic of Turkey cannot be the homeland of sheikhs, dervishes, disciples and members. The most accurate, most genuine cult, cult of civilization. It is enough to be a human being to do what civilization commands and demands.

Kemalism crystallizes in the unity of principles and reforms. His spirit is revived and conscious in the integrity of the homeland and the indivisibility of the nation.

As a complete, solid and perfect state system, it becomes majestic in the Republic of Turkey. Because of all these facts, no thinker can connect its formation to preconceptions and fixed ideas. Based on facts, it is a completely national and civilized formation. It was born out of the need to establish, strengthen and protect its own existence. It pursued the goal of rapid development. For this reason, Ataturk:

“..The goal of our nation, the ideal of our nation; to be a social society in the full sense of the world. You know that the existence, value, right to freedom and independence of every tribe in the world are in harmony with the civilized works they have or will do. Tribes that lack the ability to create civilized works are condemned to be separated from their freedom and independence. Success on the road to civilization depends on innovation. This is the only way of development and progress in order to be successful in social life, economic life, science and science. It is imperative that the rules that dominate life and livelihood change, develop and renew with time”.

IMPORTANT ISSUES IN REVOLUTIONARY:

I -The Basic Philosophy of the Revolution:

The basic philosophy of revolutionism is to preserve and keep alive the reforms that have been made. Moreover; In the face of the advancing and developing world, it is never to delay the renewal. The most important issue in conservation is Atatürk's principles. principles will always be the source of strength. The dynamic ideal of the nation will ensure life and survival. It will continue to be handed down from generation to generation.

The main thing in living and keeping the revolutions alive is to spread the revolutions. To the people, to the nation. Only in this way, Turkish society can always be found in a dynamic state, on the path of civilization and in the understanding of its Turkishness. It can provide rooting. Unless the philosophy of the revolution is preserved, the revolutions cannot be preserved, nor can they be lived and lived. Nor will it be possible to reach higher levels.

That's why Great Atatürk; "We have done a big revolution. We took the country from one age to another. We destroyed many old establishments. They have thousands of followers. It is important to remember that they are waiting for an opportunity. Even in the most advanced democracies, harsh measures have been applied to protect the regime. We need more measures to protect the revolution.” says 7.

Revolutionary philosophy; He does not leave the preservation of the revolution or its further development to chance. Seeing and catching the facts, he walks safely in the light of knowledge and under the guidance of the mind. That's why Atatürk said: “..As in every other side, there may be forces that cannot digest it in the face of new movements and currents.

“It is absolutely necessary to know that what is gained is life and honor. This is rape, an invasion of life and honor. It is necessary for every individual to pay attention to such acts and to be extremely vigilant against them.” says 8...

The philosophy of the revolution is to believe in revolutions. To defend them with conviction. It is to fiercely resist their freezing, freezing, and corruption. On this subject, Great Atatürk says with faith and confidence; “The law of the revolution is above the existing laws. Unless it kills us and drowns the current in our heads, the revolution and innovation we started will not stop for a moment. It will be like this after us.”9

2-The Main Principles of the Revolution:

Atatürk's reforms are a living history. It is always alive and fresh. Since it is realistic and life itself, it is the life history of the Turk. It is completely national. It is based on reason and knowledge. It is civilized. It is born out of the necessities of life.

The main principle of the revolution is the reconstruction of the Turkish state. It is a change in the mental structure of the Turkish people. It is the will and desire of the society and the nation to innovate and develop. It is the Turk's "rising like a brand new sun" to the horizons of civilization, both materially and spiritually, with its unique characteristics. For this reason, Atatürk said: "The aim of the revolutions we have made and are making is to bring the people of the Republic of Turkey into a completely modern and civilized society with all its meaning and appearance, this is the main principle of our revolutions." says 10.

3-Revolutionism and the People:

Revolutionism is always progress and development at every stage of life. It is a continuous run in the horizons of civilization, in the consciousness of Turkishness, for the rise of the society, the nation. According to Atatürk, the basis and power of every move is the people. Every progress and development arises from an essential need and desire of the people.

In Kemalism, a whole nation can be explained with the phrase "People". Therefore, there is no class. There are various professions. These also complement each other. There is a union of education and training. The main thing is to raise the level of knowledge by educating the people. That's why Atatürk; He says, “It is necessary to educate the whole people as intellectuals in education rather than to make the people knowledgeable by educating them and to reduce the intellectuals to the level of the people”11.

Atatürk, who gives great value to the people, is always with the people. It is in the public. The pulse of the people is always in his hands. He struggles for the upbringing and upbringing of the people. He first opens the reforms to the public and announces them to the public. He sees their acceptance, adoption, protection, dissemination and development in the education of the people. That's why Atatürk;

“Whatever moves and revolutions I have made for the good of the nation and country, I have always made contact with our people, drawing strength and inspiration from their interest and love, and their sincerity. Our goal, our aim is always the salvation, happiness and development of our nation and country.” says 12.

Kemalism is a spirit. It is the spirit of rebirth. This spirit becomes conscious in revolutionism. It finds its true source in the nationalist and civilizationist understanding. This resource is for the public. The whole point is to educate the people and make them drink from this source willingly and bloodily. This is why the Kemalist Thought System is complete and perfect. It is based on the people. That is why the great Atatürk calls out to our nation: “Great sacred goals are unattainable goals. For this reason, we will not be content with reaching any goal. We will always strive to go further.” 13

Let's never forget that every request and need of our people is a target. Accurate, fast and reliable steps are essential on the way to development and promotion.

4-Movement in Revolutionism:

Mobility is essential in revolutionism. Mobility is in the spirit of revolutionism. The principle of revolutionism; It includes the independence of the nation, the integrity of the homeland and the peace of the society. In the course of time, the nation always expresses a progress. It doesn't let anything stand still, freeze. It is completely against stereotypes and stereotypes. As a matter of fact, the great Atatürk, the constructor and creator of the Kemalist Thought System, says:

"..You say you will follow me tirelessly. But friends say, what fatigue? Is it okay not to get tired? Of course you will be tired. What I want from you is not to get tired, but to walk without stopping even when you are tired, and to follow me without resting even when you are tired. Tiredness is a natural state for every human being. However, there is a spiritual force in man that can overcome fatigue, and this force drives those who are tired without resting. You, the young sons of the new Turkey, will follow me even if you are tired. Those who decide to walk without rest never, ever get tired. Turkish youth will march to the goal, to our high ideal, without stopping, without getting tired.” 14

Revolutionism is a great vitality. Mobility is always and everywhere. Society is a living being. Both the society and the nation living in a state order will develop and change by keeping up with the course of the age. However, the main thing in this is that the nation does not lose its own characteristics. For this reason, Atatürk's principles and reforms are Turkish. It is Turkish property. He is Turkish with his nobility and specialties; The source is the people. It is national dynamism.

5-Time is also very important in revolutionism.

Timing is essential for the adoption and preservation of the reform. It is the key to innovation and development. The lock must be opened on time. Great Atatürk calculated this very well and kept it as a "national secret" and explained it when the time came. Moreover; In the element called time, he carried out two issues at once. On the one hand, he brought out the revolutions fully and on time; On the other hand, he showed his speed in the flow of time. As a matter of fact: “We have done many and great things in a short time. The biggest of these works is the Republic of Turkey, which is based on Turkish heroism and high Turkish culture” and said: “... Because we have to do more and bigger works and we are determined. We will raise our country to the level of the most prosperous and civilized countries in the world. We will make our nation have the most extensive means and resources of welfare. We will raise our national culture above the level of contemporary civilization. “For this reason, we think that the measure of time should not be considered according to the relaxing mentality of the past centuries, but according to the notion of speed and movement of our century.” 15

6-The Future of Revolutions:

It is necessary and obligatory to secure the future of the revolutions. This is really a necessity to be civilized. It is a necessity for every Turk as it is a life, a history and a cultural requirement. Securing the future is not by laws, but by intimidating Atatürk's principles into our souls. Ataturkism is difficult. It takes realism. The face of the truth is dull, it requires knowledge, and science requires effort and requires planned and continuous work. It takes mind. It also requires a mind free from personal interests and benefits. It requires a mind that does not like sentimentality and is free from preconceptions and fixed ideas. Finally, it requires a balanced, ordered and sequential logic. All this cannot be achieved by saying "I am a Kemalist". It is obtained by examining and researching the Kemalist Thought System and becoming conscious of principles and revolutions. Then it becomes a belief.

Revolution and Dynamic Ideal:

The basis of the revolution is the national spirit. National unity and integrity can only be achieved with the creation of the national spirit. It is also secured by the protection and continuity of the created national spirit. Moreover; the nation should know itself and gain a national identity. This is an integral part of the national spirit. This spirit marks where the nation can come from and where it can go. For this reason, nations that have reached the consciousness of the national spirit and gained their identity go to the horizon of civilization with full rein.

The national spirit also gives shape and direction to the state. Let's never forget that civilization starts with a state order first of all. It develops with the completeness and perfection of the order. It reaches the level of contemporary civilization. Thus, various political, social and cultural institutions come into being, and society and nation are exalted within humane rules. It gives a dynamism to the nation with the principle of thought and action. Great Atatürk describes this issue as the dynamic ideal of the nation as follows: “Our great cause is to increase our existence as the most civilized and prosperous nation. This is the Dynamic ideal of the great Turkish Nation, which has made a fundamental revolution not only in its institutions but also in its thoughts. In order to achieve this ideal as soon as possible, we have to carry out ideas and actions together.”16

Raising our national material and spiritual existence is the dynamic ideal of the Turkish State. Because the aim is not only to protect the reforms made. It is always to rise above what contemporary civilization brings. These constantly make new breakthroughs necessary and necessary. The way and method of this obligation is to stick to Atatürk's principles. The source of these principles is the revolutions. For this reason, Atatürk expresses the Turkish revolution as follows: “A ruined country on the edge of the abyss... Bloody struggles with various enemies, years of war... After that; A new homeland, a new society, a new state, respected at home and abroad, and incessant revolutions to achieve them.

Then, by defining the revolutions: “The works we have accomplished in the cultural and social field have revealed the national face of the Republic of Turkey with definite lines. With its new letters, national history, language, art, scientific music and technical institutions, the modern Turkish society, which makes men and women equal in all rights, is the work of these last years. 18

There is one thing that should never be forgotten. This is the Republic of Turkey, brought about as a whole by Atatürk's reforms and principles. This great and sacred work has been entrusted to the Turkish nation and the Turkish youth created at all ages. In another sense, keeping it alive forever is the testament of Great Atatürk. This testament and trust can only be lived and kept alive by being passed on from generation to generation, with adherence to its reforms and principles.

In the history of the Turk, there has been no betrayal of the will or the trust. Aziz Atatürk is still alive with this belief and trust. He watches and waits for us at his eternal resting place. As the Kemalist poet Behçet said;

We slept, he waited for us;

He slept and gave us the watch.

However, let's become conscious of this great spirit as a nation. Let's embrace the Kemalist Thought System, which warns and enlightens not only our nation, but also all nations of the world. The direction, method and spirit of national and civilized life is Kemalism.

Kemalism is a great spirit; the soul does not die.

1 Dr. Utkan Kocatürk, “Atatürk's Ideas and Thoughts” P. 71.

2 Afet İnan “Memories and Documents About Atatürk” P. 250.

3 Peyami Safa “Overviews of the Turkish Revolution” P. 94.

Date of the 4th Month Issue: 49, P. 44

5 Peyami Safa “Overviews of the Turkish Revolution” P. 95.

6 Atatürk's S. and D. Vol. II, p. 183.

7 Avni Doğan “Liberation-Establishment and After” P. 165.

8 Atatürk's S. and V. Vol. II, p. 98.

9 İsmail Arar, “Atatürk's Press Conference in Izmit” P. 56.

10 Herbert Melzig, "Atatürk's Major Speeches," pp. 92-93.

11 Prof. Afet Inan, “The First Industrial Plan of the Republic of Turkey” P. 20.

12 Mustafa Selim İnce “Atatürk's Hat Revolution Travel to Kastamonu and İnebolu” 1925.

13 Ancestor. S. and DC II. p. 223.

14 Cumhuriyet Newspaper, 1 April 1937.

15 Atatürk's S. and DC II, P. 272.

16 Atatürk's 1937 Grand National Assembly Opening Speech, p. 20-30.

17 Atatürk's S. and DIeS 365.

Date of 18 Month Issue: 18, 1935 Page. 38.

Bekir Tünay

Source: ATATÜRK ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ DERGİSİ, Sayı 9, Cilt III, Temmuz 1987