Why is Kemalism and Kemalism in one aspect important?

Kemalism means to think like Atatürk in every field from ideas to actions, to understand his philosophy, to take his actions as a basis and aim, and to try to follow in his footsteps. In this sense, Kemalism is to share the achievements and ideals of Atatürk and his colleagues, to sincerely adhere to the founding philosophy, principles and values of the Republic of Turkey and to keep them alive. In short, we call Kemalism the doctrine that binds Turkey's reaching the level of contemporary civilisation to the execution and protection of the revolutions initiated by Atatürk.

It would be incomplete to state that Kemalism begins with the surname "Atatürk". The historical figure known as Atatürk, whether he is referred to as Mustafa or Kemal or even Gazi, is ultimately the same person. Kemalism did not begin with the surname law that gave Mustafa Kemal the surname Atatürk in 1934. Atatürk's entry into Turkish political and intellectual life starts from the moment he appeared on the stage of history. Although Atatürk was a mortal born in 1881, the roots of the concept of Kemalism shaped around this surname are equivalent to Turkish history. Mustafa Kemal's understanding of Turkishness, with its cultural and historical awareness, goes back to the first moment when Turks first appeared on the stage of history and encompasses the entire Turkish history with all its faults and merits, and considers it as a whole. 

Furthermore, Kemalism is not a revolutionary movement that is done once and finished. On the contrary, it is based on a system that constantly renews itself and builds institutions that will renew itself. Kemalism is a system based on national will and sovereignty, bringing together the Grand National Assembly and the Turkish people on the same ground. 

If there is no Republic and full independence in a place, if the national will cannot influence the administration, there is no Kemalism there. For this reason, it is in favour of full independence, populist, democratic, democratic, social and peaceful, based on positive science and free emotion, dynamic. It means not accepting the patronage and support of a foreign state.

This system is not imported from abroad. It is a brand new system built in the centre of Ankara out of necessity, based on national sovereignty, by those who led the Turkish War of Independence under the conditions of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Undoubtedly, the leaders of the fire of liberation burning in Anatolia were aware of the revolutions and enlightenment movements in various parts of the world. They were aware of all kinds of developments in the world. They were reading and following the world and endeavouring to establish the best system suitable for the Turkish heritage in the bosom of Anatolia. On the one hand, while expelling the enemy from the homeland, on the other hand, they were de facto and philosophically busy constructing a new understanding of the state centred on the Grand National Assembly of Turkey under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal. The Grand National Assembly, which hosted the representatives of the nation, was prioritised above everything else. Even before the establishment of the state, the principle of national sovereignty was in operation. For this reason, Ataturkism, which constitutes the essence of the founding philosophy of the Turkish State, is also seen as a system of governance that is at the centre of the Turkish State apparatus, although temporary governments sometimes forget it. In this respect, Kemalism is above politics. Because it is at the very centre of the state being built. Even if the governments change, the foundations of the Turkish state and Atatürkism that builds these foundations will not change. 

The Turkish enlightenment and revolutionary movement initiated after the War of Independence has found a place for itself under the umbrella of Kemalism. For this reason, the name of the idea and ideal aspect of the Turkish Revolution is, in short, Kemalism. The ideal of rising above the level of contemporary civilisation, the goal set by Mustafa Kemal and adopted by the nation, is the reflection of this idea and ideal on the field. 

Ataturk's belief that "My body will one day eventually turn to dust, but the Republic of Turkey will live forever!" is the belief of Atatürk. Here it becomes clear that Ataturkism should be understood as an abstract concept. What is essential is that the new Turkish State should continue its existence in line with the principles, ideals and goals set in the years of its foundation. In this dynamic system, every problem faced by the country should be endeavoured to find solutions by staying within the system designed by Mustafa Kemal and his friends. For example, it is to adopt the understanding of making the people of the Republic of Turkey live in peace and prosperity by operating all the institutions of democracy without becoming autocratic. Otherwise, there may be attempts to develop Turkey and make it a prosperous country by, for example, reintroducing the sultanate system, but this is not called Atatürkism, but something else. It means the deviation of Atatürk's Turkey from Atatürkism.

While trying to reflect the essence of Kemalism to you, I would be remiss if I did not also mention the badge or wardrobe Kemalism that inevitably disturbs me. Among those who act against the spirit of the Republic, unfortunately, there are hypocrites of the Republic, ethnic separatists who cannot embrace Turkishness and aim at the integrity of the Turkish people, and even spies living among us for this purpose. Unfortunately, since our young people and the majority of our people prefer to listen to these so-called intellectuals who stay away from reading, listen to these so-called intellectuals who occasionally make 'Atatürkism' discourses like a broken record, and accept what they say as true, Atatürkism in our country can neither be understood nor lived as it deserves. When some so-called Turkish intellectuals try to market ideologies that are not ours, such as socialism and Marxism, under the name of Kemalism, the 'uneducated' public becomes even more confused.

The first thing to know is that these badge Kemalists are not really Kemalists. Then what is Kemalism? As a basis for the term Kemalism, western state administrators' use of the term Kemalist forces during our War of Independence (to prevent the growth of the movement led by Mustafa Kemal Pasha, to show the leaders of this movement, which grew despite the sultanate after a period, as simple rebels, etc. in the name of expectations) introduced this word into the literature. Kemalism, which was named by the West in a way, also became the name of the Turkish revolutionary movement that started during the Turkish War of Independence. In time, the phenomenon called Kemalism has acquired a unique nomenclature as "Kemalism". Some Western writers accepted Atatürk's principles as the ideology of Kemalism. As a result, there is no problem when we say that Kemalism was called Kemalism in the early years and now it is called Kemalism. However, insistently calling Kemalism instead of Kemalism leads us to ordinary ideologies, ideological ruptures and divisions among us. However, as I have been trying to say from the beginning, Kemalism is a reflection of our ideals, our homeland philosophy, our basic values and our common culture. It is unifying, not divisive. 

From this point of view, Kemalism and Kemalism as they were called during the War of Independence are the same. What was called Kemalism that day was not a doctrine! Kemalism was seen as an anti-imperialist ideology, and as a matter of fact, it had a positive impact on societies struggling for independence against imperialism. So much so that it reached as far as Cuba, even guiding Casro in a way. 

Kemalism is not only important as an ideology! The real significance of this ideology is that it is a symbol of successful resistance to Western domination. Kemalism is an ideology of development, which for the first time appeared in an underdeveloped country and went through a historical test. Kemalism is the defence of Mustafa Kemal's thought and action as a whole. Kemalism is the general name of the path followed by Mustafa Kemal and his friends with whom he founded this country, and the ideas he developed in his own unique way. Here, the "ism" attached to Kemal is a path and a system. Although Kemalism did not bring a different system such as Capitalism and Marxism, it brought new and unique ideas that would save us from the exploitation and captivity of the West within the capitalist system and at least enable us to stand upright.

As a result, Kemalism is a new structure that Mustafa Kemal developed for us by utilising national and universal developments and ideologies. It is an example for all colonised and semi-colonised societies in the national and universal context. It is a unique liberation movement and a way of rebuilding the state/nation that will continue to exist today and in the future. In this sense, Kemalism is not a movement that emerged with the aim of creating an ideology. For this reason, it is not even an ideology, it is national, it is unique to us, it has emerged out of necessity. In this context, I believe that we should use a more inclusive and correct concept such as Kemalism. Because Kemalism remains a forced term, those who use this term inevitably lead us to ideological definitions, which is contrary to the spirit of Kemalism and carries the danger of turning this movement into a separatist and divisive concept. Since some people know this, they deliberately, knowingly and willingly endeavour to dilute Ataturkism. Each of us has to consciously see the difference between the two. Kemalism is a movement of thought and action. I see those who walk around as Kemalism as a group of people who are trying to doctrinise the idea of Kemalism, to confine it into a dull structure, and to destroy its dynamism, perhaps unwittingly.

In reality, when we say Kemalism, it is the name of following Atatürk's path, whereas Kemalism is the name of an approach that puts Atatürkism into a narrow mould and clings to political science theories in doing so. However, whereas Kemalism is a concept that constantly renews itself, Kemalism is a concept of a political school that is written and finished. Ataturkism, as a progressive system of thought, is an effort to be subject to the ring of modern civilisations but not to compromise on culture in doing so. Kemalism, on the other hand, is not in favour of progressivism and change. While Kemalism is based on full independence in every field from economy to art, industry to agriculture, the ideology meant by Kemalism tends to make compromises in order to meet some commonalities. While Kemalism is based on nationalism and nationalism, the current meant by Kemalism is inclined to accept westernisation at the expense of de-nationalisation if necessary. 

By the way, the first thing that the leaders of oppressed and developing countries look up to is Mustafa Kemal Atatürk himself, his leadership. Afterwards, it is his works. None of them have a path or doctrine they follow called Kemalism. Turkish youth have been moulded and educated with Kemalism for decades. Kemalism is a nomenclature that ended in the 1930s. It was replaced by Kemalism. Kemalism, which has now reappeared, is a forced term that has recently entered the dictionaries. 

Ataturkism is based on the concepts of nation and nationality, while Kemalism seeks to universalise this ownership by taking it away from the Turk. The principles of Kemalism are universal, orientated towards democracies, principles of humane life, reason and science, peace and tranquillity, and value tolerance, love and respect. Kemalism, on the other hand, is closed, simple, narrowly framed, relatively rigid and uncompromising. Kemalism is a good example for all oppressed nations. What is meant by Kemalism cannot be taken as a precedent. It has no lived example and no success. In Kemalism, the army is outside and above politics. In the ideology of Kemalism, on the other hand, it is far from this exemption and is seen as the hand of the governments. Ataturkism's ability to persuade, convince, empower and gather supporters is infinite and intrinsic. What is meant by Kemalism, on the other hand, lacks this spirit and is far from being able to rally the people behind it. While Kemalism embraces everyone who says they are a Turk, the ideology put forward as Kemalism is unintentionally prone to discrimination, and even in doing so, the pride of Turkishness is often wounded; for some reason, this is not paid much attention.

Kemalism is the original, the essence. Kemalism is the interpretation and definition of Kemalism. Therefore, Kemalism can never be as beautiful and correct as the original. Kemalism is evaluated in the time in which it was lived and reflected in these times. Kemalism, on the other hand, can never reach the right result because it tries to interpret the doctrine with today's conditions. Finally, Kemalism cannot be lived without Atatürk, without his appreciation and recognition. Kemalism, on the other hand, is of such a character that it can tolerate attacks even on Atatürk himself, and it does so in the name of freedom.

We should all know and accept that Kemalism will never become obsolete, fade or diminish. While ideologies such as Marxism and capitalism are subjected to the heaviest criticism, Ataturkism has gained even more meaning at the point where the world has arrived. Because this path, although national, is not a path closed to the rest of the world and does not prevent it from being taken as an example. In a world where globalisation and technology almost dominate the whole world, there may be those among us who claim that there is no place for Kemalism as a system. At this very point, in a world that is becoming increasingly savage, where human values and local cultures are being eroded, preserving the line of Kemalism that reflects our essence, thinking like Atatürk and endeavouring to solve the problems of our country and our people will not bring us harm, but rather benefit. Do we need to be reminded that Ataturkism, which is based on the principle of "Science is the truest guide in life!", is the most peaceful way with technology?

Atatürkism is the name of the path drawn by the Turkish nation, which gained its independence with the War of Independence, based on reason and facts while seeking its future in Anatolian lands. In order to move our country forward on this path, to become a modern and developed country, to make this nation have a say on the world stage, I see benefit for all of us in not breaking away from the dynamic prescription called Kemalism. I believe that we should continue to use Kemalism to better understand the world and to better determine the strategic future of our nation without confining it into narrow moulds such as Kemalism. 

Stay with respect and love