Speaking at the panel 'Where Are We in the Republic's 100th Year?', Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated in his presentation titled “The Republic progresses with evolution, not revolution” that Turkey still experiences difficulties in modernizing while preserving its own culture. Tarhan emphasized that Turkey has not overcome its identity crisis.
Üsküdar University, the Risale-i Nur Institute, and the Şekercihan Association organized a panel titled "Where Are We in the Republic's 100th Year?" on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Republic. The opening speeches of the panel were delivered by Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan and Prof. Dr. Ruhi Yavuz.
Speaking at the opening of the panel held at Üsküdar University Central Campus Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall, Prof. Dr. Tarhan began his speech titled “The Republic progresses with evolution, not revolution” by celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Republic.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that human history has gone through an evolutionary process, referring to the development of humanity within this process, and expressed that humanity has become self-governing.
Cultural change in the Islamic world
“Within this development, Turkey was inevitably going to continue as a constitutional monarchy, but for various reasons, it could not, and since it could not be a constitutional monarchy, it continued as a republic. It has come to this day experiencing various fluctuations within itself,” said Prof. Dr. Tarhan, explaining the cultural change in the Islamic world and the relationship between despotism and governance.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan pointed out that in the 1970s, there was top-down modernization with despotism in some countries like Iraq, Egypt, Algeria, Iran, and Afghanistan, stating, “Despotism, oppression… It’s a rule in psychology that force feeds its opposite. Extremism gives rise to its opposite. Excess gives rise to deficiency. There was extreme oppression, a despotic regime. When the despotic regime couldn't achieve results, you see a complete opposite in Iran and Afghanistan. Now, there is religiously-motivated authoritarianism in the same countries.”
What if there hadn't been democratization in 1950?
Noting that Turkey transitioned from a single-party Republic to a multi-party Republic in the 1950s, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “The 1960 coup happened. If there hadn’t been democratization in 1950, or if the coup plotters of 1960 had remained, Turkey would have led to the emergence of counter-despotism and societal disintegration, similar to Ceaușescu’s regime.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan explained that fear, oppression, threats, and obedience suppress people's emotions in such cultures, and that the exact opposite emerges at the slightest moment of crisis, noting that this situation is similar in Iran and Afghanistan.
Modernizing while preserving our own culture
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that Istanbul in the 1950s was almost the same as current Istanbul in terms of attire, and expressed that maturity was shown towards the atmosphere of freedom in Turkey despite many crises.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan said that if Turkey had not transitioned to multi-party democracy in the 1950s, it might currently be facing a counter-despotism. He added, “Turkey still has difficulties in modernizing while preserving its own culture. Turkey has not overcome its identity crisis.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan explained that in the early years of the Republic, a top-down identity change was desired, and society showed its maturity with the 'gentlemanly' quality inherited from the Ottomans by not acting reactively, and that the fruits of this are now being reaped.
Republican administration in Islamic society
Speaking at the panel, Prof. Dr. Ruhi Yavuz from the Risale-i Nur Institute explained that with the advent of Islam, a republican administration was established in Islamic society, and that the Prophet Muhammad and the subsequent three caliphs were elected to the head of state.
Following the opening speeches, the panel proceeded.
In the panel moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Tümay, Prof. Dr. Adem Ölmez spoke on "Historical Roots of the Republic", Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Çelik on "Where Are We in Democracy and the Rule of Law on the 100th Anniversary of the Republic?", and Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yıldız on "Religion-Society and State Relations on the 100th Anniversary of the Republic".