Historian Prof. Dr. Hadiye Yılmaz Odabaşı, in her assessment regarding the 102nd anniversary of the Republic's foundation, emphasized that the Republic's greatest achievement was instilling in the public the consciousness of being “equal citizens” without discrimination based on faith, gender, or origin.
Pointing out that we should focus on the future instead of fighting with the past, Prof. Dr. Hadiye Yılmaz Odabaşı said, “First, instead of engaging in petty quarrels about the past, we should turn our direction to the present and the future. Today, we must not forget that only through the unity and solidarity of all different segments can we make our homeland a safer and more prosperous home.”
Prof. Dr. Hadiye Yılmaz Odabaşı, Head of the History Department at Üsküdar University, made an assessment regarding the 102nd anniversary of the Republic's foundation.
All citizens of the country are equal!
Stating that “The Republic's greatest achievement is having instilled the feeling of 'being equal citizens' in all people living in the same homeland,” Prof. Dr. Hadiye Yılmaz Odabaşı continued:
“Citizenship consciousness means being aware that we are all individuals with equal rights, regardless of what social identities we possess. That is, independently of our faith, gender, ancestry, or income level, all citizens of this country are equal. The establishment of this consciousness of equality at a societal level was made possible with the proclamation of the Republic. In this respect, the founding of the Republic is not merely a change in governance or regime, but a historical turning point where the people gained the courage to determine their own destiny by realizing their own power.”
The structural foundations of society were rebuilt
Stating that the founding process of the Republic can be said to be one of the greatest social ruptures in the country's history, Prof. Dr. Hadiye Yılmaz Odabaşı said, “Because this process is one of the most radical social and political transformation moments in the country's past. It signifies not only the transition from monarchy to republic but also the rebuilding of the structural foundations of society. In the pre-Republic era, as in all other imperial forms, the political allegiance of individuals constituting society was directed towards a hierarchy based on dynasty and religion. With the Republic, this allegiance was replaced by the will of the people, that is, the understanding that 'sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation.' Thus, a complete paradigm shift occurred in the relationship between individual and state. This rupture in the 600-year-old ancient tradition of the Ottoman Empire naturally reshaped the political culture, social values, and identity perception of the new nation-state, Turkey.”
The idea of the Republic gained an unshakeable place in all segments of society
Expressing her views by saying, “It cannot be said that the idea of the Republic has 100% settled into all segments of Turkish society, but it is undeniable that this idea has gained a permanent and unshakeable place in the collective consciousness,” Prof. Dr. Hadiye Yılmaz Odabaşı said, “Various explanations can be offered as to why it has not settled into all segments of society. The most common of these is that, as in many geographies, the social transformation experienced with the republic in our country was structured with a 'top-down' model. For this reason, in the early periods, the idea of the republic found a strong resonance especially among urban, educated segments who were in close contact with the state. The main reason it did not find the same resonance in other segments is that traditional lifestyles and religious-cultural references were more decisive in these circles. At the point reached today, the idea of the republic—that is, fundamental principles such as popular sovereignty, equal citizenship, and the rule of law—undoubtedly receives broad acceptance, but both its interpretation and levels of internalization vary across different segments. However, it should also be emphasized that this situation is not unique to our history; in every era and against every type of innovation, different segments of society develop differing attitudes.”
The Republic signifies a break from the traditional structure of the Ottoman Empire
Prof. Dr. Hadiye Yılmaz Odabaşı also noted that the Republic, in its purest form, signifies a rupture from the traditional structure of the Ottoman Empire, and continued:
“Therefore, the change and transformation of an accustomed 600-year-old ancient tradition will not be easy for any society, and it was the same for us. The separation of religious and state affairs, that is, the internalization of the religion-state-public life distinction, undoubtedly requires a sensitive and long-term process for a populace with 600 years of habits; in some segments, it leads to adaptation and acceptance problems. This is because with the new regime, as traditional authority weakened and the role of religion in the public sphere was restricted, the security institutions of the social order accustomed by the people for hundreds of years either weakened or disappeared. Naturally, in the face of this situation, for segments with stronger traditional ties, a deep rupture occurred in the collective consciousness—that is, in the entirety of rules, values, and forms of behavior people were accustomed to—threatening feelings of trust, belonging, and predictability.”
The Republic offered a unifying framework in Turkey
On the other hand, Prof. Dr. Hadiye Yılmaz Odabaşı also reminded that the rapid change of established values through social transformations such as women's rights, clothing, and language reforms increased anxiety levels among segments with high traditional adherence, leading to resistance and reaction. She said, “For, in the face of innovation and change, the tendency to 'prefer the known old' is generally stronger at both individual and societal levels. For the same reason, internalizing the individual-citizen identity of the new regime has made it difficult to identify with the new identity instead of the old, familiar identity, allegiances, and sense of trust known for centuries; because the new identity is quite foreign in every respect. Consequently, the Republic offered a unifying framework in Turkey but was not internalized to the same extent by almost all segments. Segments with strong traditional allegiances reacted to the loss of the old authority and order they trusted, which they faced with the Republic.”
Focus on the future instead of fighting with the past
Drawing a roadmap for the future, Prof. Dr. Hadiye Yılmaz Odabaşı concluded her words by saying, “First, instead of engaging in petty quarrels about the past, we should turn our direction to the present and the future. In the world and in our country, we must accept that the process of national identity building, which began with the proclamation of the Republic, is now progressing with different dynamics, and the spirit of the times has changed. Today, we must not forget that only through the unity and solidarity of all different segments can we make our homeland a safer and more prosperous home. Therefore, we must take steps that strengthen participatory and inclusive education policies, cooperation and dialogue with different segments of society, people-oriented awareness and experience opportunities, and social and economic equality. By doing so, while respecting the rhythm and cultural sensitivities of society, we can restructure the achievements of the Republic in the 21st century to unite society on the basis of citizenship and civic values.”