The importance of non-governmental institutions on Turkish nationalism idea's institutionalization in the period of Turkish Republic: Turk Ocakları

Nationalism which became a cornerstone of new World had also hand-wringing process like each change. Self-centered or family-centered empires that have been dominated for centuries gave places to nation states based on nation because of nationalism appeared with 1789 French Revolution. The Ottoman Empire not to be affected took various precautions against nationalism but failed. Consequently, the Ottoman Empire gave its place to the Republic of Turkey and many countries on three continents. The notion of civil society was precluded to save the government integrity and secure uniformity in the Ottoman Empire. The civil societies started to be established with the Second Constitutional Monarchy that was declared at the last period of the Ottoman Empire in more liberation environment and each ideology in the civil society started to be presented by its own view. Turkish Nationalism started to be institutionalized like other ideologies in this period. The letter of 190 military medical students set up a substructure of Turk Ocakları. Turkish nationalist intellectuals refusing to keep silent for this call united under Turk Ocakları. Turk Ocakları has continued its own existence to spread and preserve the idea of Turkish Nationalism since 1912 even though there have been some interruptions. Turk Ocakları was firstly closed up with the occupation of İstanbul after World War I and then it was closed again in 1931 by Atatürk and Turk Ocakları was lastly closed up after 1980 Turkish coup. Despite the interruptions, Turk Ocakları advocating Turkish Nationalism always specified Turkish Nationalism cannot be provisional agenda by understanding of its own nationalism and interpreting the events based on Turkish nationalism. The purpose of this study was to specify the role of Turk Ocakları on the institutionalization of nationalism while investigating Turk Ocakları's activities. The improvement of Turk Ocakları which was the basic topic of this study was investigated at first chronologically and then nationalist view. In addition, it was stated that Turkish nation and government must be glorified and key elements and establishments must be preserved in this study. The findings in this study indicated that Turk Ocakları criticized the government policy which stated Turkish Nationalism as provisional agenda and Turk Ocakları emphasized Turkish Nationalism which must be a lasting government policy and agenda.