The Turkish Struggle for Full Independence

Parvus Efendi, whose real name was Alexander Israel Helphand, born in 1867, was one of the most versatile figures of his time, having devoted his life to the study of strategy, economics and revolutionary theory across continental Europe and the Ottoman Empire. Arriving in Istanbul in 1910 to serve as an economic adviser to the Committee of Union and Progress, Parvus is known as one of the key figures who laid the economic foundations of the Turkic nationalist movement. Through the articles he wrote in the period’s publications, he sought to instil the concept of ‘national economy’ in Turkish society; he argued that Turkism was not merely a cultural awakening, but also a cause for economic development and the creation of a native bourgeoisie. His warning that ‘A state that borrows takes orders’ and his theses on economic independence later became the unshakeable foundation of the Republic, embodied in Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s maxim that ‘Political independence cannot endure unless crowned with economic independence’.

The prescription outlined by Parvus Efendi a century ago in the pages of Türk Yurdu and Bilgi Mecmuası should be read today not merely as an economic choice but as a vital line of defence for the survival of the Republic of Turkey. For our country, which is striving to preserve its identity amidst the gears of the global system, full independence is not merely about safeguarding the integrity of our borders, but also about building minds, tables and technology with a local spirit. Regrettably, however, this strategic vision, which was passionately articulated under the harsh conditions of that era, has now been supplanted in today’s Turkey by a shallow spiral of consumption and the clamour of polarisation.

​In today’s political climate, our greatest challenge lies in our human capital—the very source that will carry this historical depth into the future. It is with regret that we observe the generations to whom we entrust our future are unable to resist being swept in every direction under a global cultural siege. We witness that the disciplined work ethic and production-oriented state mindset Parvus spoke of are far removed from guiding Turkey. So much so that we are even struggling to look after our young people. Our youth, to whom we hope to entrust our future, are unfortunately preoccupied with finding new spheres of existence within the virtual illusions offered by social media. This new generation of young people, devoid of strategic foresight, who listen to their history as if it were merely a fairy tale and are disconnected from production, stands before us, I fear, as the weakest link of the Turkish nation. We must pull our children out of this digital whirlwind and teach them that love for the homeland is not merely an emotion, but a matter of production and discipline.

​We must clearly understand that the consciousness of defending and exalting the homeland is not merely the soldier’s duty, but an unshakeable social responsibility that every member of society must embrace.

From the farmer in the field to the scientist in the laboratory, everyone must take every step with a national ideal in mind. If every citizen does not internalise this discipline, the sacrifices made at the front will not be enough to lead us to full independence.

It must not be forgotten that a nation’s independence lies not only in the bayonet of the soldier standing guard along the borders, but also in the home-grown chip of the young person toiling in the laboratory, in the calloused hands of the farmer protecting his seeds in the field, and in the strategic mind of the engineer turning the wheels in the factory. In today’s world, a generation that cannot write its own software, produce its own energy, or harvest its own grain from its soil—even if it drives the latest model car or holds the world’s most expensive phone—is, in reality, mentally and economically a captive of another.

The cause of ‘national economy’ that Parvus highlighted a century ago should be regarded as equivalent to our young people demonstrating the resolve to build a better version of that global social media platform with the spirit of these lands, rather than getting lost within it. The survival of our Republic depends on the consciousness of full independence being engraved in the mind of every young person as a national duty. If our children cannot grasp that safeguarding their own resources and producing their own technology is a matter of honour, our country will be unable to escape joining the ranks of those unfortunate states consigned to the dustbin of history. History never forgives those who sever ties with their roots or are caught unprepared.

We can continue to build our future by transforming our own resources into value and following the honourable path laid out by our forebears. Raising our nation to a level above contemporary civilisations is only possible by keeping our love for the homeland alive forever and converting this love into a tangible productive force.

Undoubtedly, despair does not befit us, the Turkish nation, or our people. For where hope ends, everything ends. What is happening today should not daunt any of us. As long as this love for our homeland and passion for independence remain within us, we shall always keep our hope fresh. Either we will unite with all strata of society around this axis of production and strategy, or we will remain a picture of sorrow in the dusty pages of history. The choice lies with the true owners of these lands. Just as in the past, those who believe in the unshakeable strength of the Turk and the ancient wisdom of these lands will prevail once again.

Bibliography:

1. ​Helphand, Alexander (Parvus Efendi). The Lifeblood of Turkey: The Debts and Reform of the Ottoman Empire. (Articles from Türk Yurdu and Bilgi Mecmuası).

2. ​Atatürk, Mustafa Kemal. The Speech and the Opening Address of the İzmir Economic Congress. (1923–1927).

3. Toprak, Zafer. National Economy in Turkey (1908–1918). History Foundation Yurt Publications.

4. Karaer, İbrahim. The Turkish Homeland Society and the Turkish Homeland Journal. Theses on Turkish Nationalism and Economic Development.