Türkiye’nin modernleşme sürecinde Atatürk, Türk Ordusu ve Türk Askeri elitleri

Abstract

The major objective of this study is to analyse the roots of Turkish modernisation.  İn relation to this, the roles of the Turkish army in this process are examined. To achieve the aim, historical perspectives are used.

The modernisation process in Turkey began in the Ottoman Empire. Nevertheless, this process reached its real and certain meaning with the Atatürk reforms. The face of Turkey was turned completely to the west by Atatürk. Turkish modernisation was shaped by the Kemalist Revolution. Atatürk defined the form and the way which should be followed by the Turkish people to become a more civilised and westernised society.  

The central institution in the process of Turkish modernisation was the army. After the abolition of the Janissary in 1826, the military became one of the most Westernised elements in the Empire. Liberal ideas first spread among the military officers and military colleges became the centre of secret political organisations in the mid-nineteenth century. Turkish military elites have always had the aim of representing the new values, behaviour patterns and life styles since the late Ottoman era.