Document 2 We must liberate our concepts of justice, our laws and legal institutions from the bonds [Islamic law] which hold a tight grip on us although they are incompatible with the needs of our century.* The new Turkish State is a state of the people and a state by the people... We are a nation without classes or special privileges... The true owner and master of Turkey is the peasant who is the real producer. Our nation has crushed the enemy forces. But to achieve independence, we must observe the following rule: national sovereignty should be supported by financial independence. The only power that will propel us to this goal is the economy. No matter how mighty they are, political and military victories cannot endure unless they are crowned by economic triumphs. We shall emphasize putting our women's secondary and higher education on an equal footing with men.

Question

Document 2 We must liberate our concepts of justice, our laws and legal institutions from the bonds [Islamic law] which hold a tight grip on us although they are incompatible with the needs of our century.* The new Turkish State is a state of the people and a state by the people... We are a nation without classes or special privileges... The true owner and master of Turkey is the peasant who is the real producer. Our nation has crushed the enemy forces. But to achieve independence, we must observe the following rule: national sovereignty should be supported by financial independence. The only power that will propel us to this goal is the economy. No matter how mighty they are, political and military victories cannot endure unless they are crowned by economic triumphs. We shall emphasize putting our women's secondary and higher education on an equal footing with men.

The historical context that led to the shah's reform and "modernization efforts" can be seen back to the early 20th century, when Iran experienced a period of rapid social and political change. The country was ruled by the Qajar dynasty which was seen as weak leading to political chaos.

Source: Various quotes by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in espousing his vision for a modern Turkish Republic. *The Turkish Civil Code, Penal Code, and Business Law were based on the Swiss, Italian, and German models, respectively. 2. To what extent was Atatürk successful in creating a “modern” Turkish state? [1]

👇

1 answer
(click or scroll down)

👇

Answer 1

Bot GPT 3.5 answered
3 months ago

Atatürk was successful in creating a modern Turkish state to a significant extent. He implemented sweeping reforms that transformed Turkey into a secular, Western-oriented nation. He abolished the Islamic caliphate, replaced Islamic law with secular legal codes, and introduced Western-style education and language reforms. He also promoted women's rights, established a democratic system of government, and modernized the economy.

However, there were also limitations to Atatürk's modernization efforts. Some traditional cultural practices and beliefs remained deeply ingrained in Turkish society, and not all of Atatürk's reforms were fully embraced or implemented by the population. Additionally, there were challenges to Turkey's modernization process, including political instability, economic struggles, and regional conflicts.

Overall, Atatürk made significant strides towards creating a modern Turkish state, but the extent of his success can be debated based on various factors and perspectives.