Atatürk has been turned into a Messiah figure after his death, kind of like Washington for USians
In the opinion of the people, he saved the republic, created policies that lifted people out of poverty and lead to democracy forming in Turkey, some love him for his mixed economic policy that essentially had state owned companies grow industries, some love him for his secularism, some love him for being a Turkish nationalist
He created kemalism, which the republican people’s party (CHP/RPP) roughly follows nowadays
You’ll see his face everywhere for this reason, many will say they’re kemalist even though they believe the opposite for this reason
In my opinion, his nationalism lead to a cultural genocide of Kurds, his politics lead to empowerment of the military which lead to right wing kemalist coups, he was a dictator and even his successor was a dictator, but his economic reforms were successful, his government owned industries had created a means of production and it also lead to a growing working class that was socialist, but his Messiah status misguided many into being left-kemalists or socialist kemalists (which is a misnomer I would say) which lead to party fragmentation
Don’t take my opinion seriously, I’m very ill read
What do you think of the istanbul situation with the arrest and protests?
my opinion is very obvious, I support the protest and it pushes more people left.
I hate kemalists, most are thinly veiled racists
The image on Wikipedia actually shows two communist/socialist parties within turkey protesting alongside the others
I don’t think it’ll bring much change though. At best it’ll radicalise more people.
Do you have anything you recommend reading about kemalists being racists or nationalists in Turkey generally?
Thanks!
I don’t, I’m not sure if there is a book on the topic either
That’s fair. I appreciate it though.
I guess in that case, what is the general opinion of people in Turkey on kemalists currently as far as you know?
Atatürk has been turned into a Messiah figure after his death, kind of like Washington for USians
In the opinion of the people, he saved the republic, created policies that lifted people out of poverty and lead to democracy forming in Turkey, some love him for his mixed economic policy that essentially had state owned companies grow industries, some love him for his secularism, some love him for being a Turkish nationalist
He created kemalism, which the republican people’s party (CHP/RPP) roughly follows nowadays
You’ll see his face everywhere for this reason, many will say they’re kemalist even though they believe the opposite for this reason
In my opinion, his nationalism lead to a cultural genocide of Kurds, his politics lead to empowerment of the military which lead to right wing kemalist coups, he was a dictator and even his successor was a dictator, but his economic reforms were successful, his government owned industries had created a means of production and it also lead to a growing working class that was socialist, but his Messiah status misguided many into being left-kemalists or socialist kemalists (which is a misnomer I would say) which lead to party fragmentation
Don’t take my opinion seriously, I’m very ill read