Social and cultural structures and changes in Atatürk

135 ABSTRACT This thesis attempts to study the establishment period which is also identified with its founder, Atatürk, of a new state, that is, Turkish Republic. The study aims to analyze the attempts regarding socio-cultural construction, modernization of a traditional society, phases of development pursuing change and politics of its founder, concerning all these attempts in the era of establishment of a new state throughout first half of 20th century. Turkish Republic has been undoubtedly indebted to its founder, Atatürk who put two main ideas-nationalism and civilization- in the base of newly established state. It's clear that his all revolutionary movements stems from these two principles. In this study while first two chapters devoted to nationalism and civilisation in a broad perspective, the revolutions of Atatürk are analyzed individually in last two chapters. The ideological base of Turkish Republic has not been established at once. The revolutionary movements which were not succeeded in the Ottoman Empire revified throught the period of establishment of Turkish Republic. Like other intellectuals who had important roles in the establishment of the new state, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was also influenced from Western ideologies and politics. He was aware of the fact that in 20th century the state could preserve its existance only if nationalism rule over all aspects of the society. Depending on this idea, he did not avoid to use his all effort in order to give national identitiy to all parts of Western civilisation.136 This establishment period Turkish Republic had many problems. The society did not accept innovations immediately and sometimes people reacted the revolutions. Even though the public's sensitivity to their tradition was considered, everything which was seen as an obstacle to the revolutions was prevented immediately. The sensitive position of this period was important not only for our concerned era but also for next years in order to preserve the regime. Turkish Republic is not a civilization which completed its evolution. It's a historical reality that at the static position regression starts. For this reason, with the support of its past. Turkish Republic have to develop and to progress its aims in all areas.