An examination on Dundar Taser's life and ideas (1925-1972)

The science of history makes the important events in the past into the subject of science within its chronological pattern. At the same time, it evaluates personalities who took part in these events within the events' integrity. Therefore, biographies about historical personages' life stories constitute one of history's important to research areas. The military Coup of 27 May 1960 can be considered the beginning of a new era in Turkey's political history in recent times. While the new constitutional order paves the way for ideas and thought movements to increase their effectiveness in the field of active politics through political organizations, at the same time, it has led to the creation of new areas of struggle. Dundar Taser was a Turkish officer who participated in the Military Coup of 27 May 1960 and was a member of the National Unity Committee. He was a politician who has actively engaged in politics in the Republican Peasant Nation Party and subsequently, the Nationalist Movement Party with his comprehension of social incidents and his ability to manage social psychology. He was also an educator who organizes and trains nationalist youth. He was a columnist who has written his thoughts for Milli Hareket and Tore journals, Yeni Istanbul and Devlet newspapers. He was a highbrow who grew up in Turkism's historical tradition, and pioneered a new phase in political and mental development after 1960. These qualities that gather in his personality also became the subject of academic studies while raising it to a distinguished position remembered with admiration in the Turkish thought life. This Master Thesis is about Dundar Taser's biography and his intellectual life. The thesis aims to determine the contributions, representation, and importance of Dundar Taser in Turkish political and ideas life. Sources such as archive documents, source works, memoirs, newspapers and magazines were used in the research. Besides, visual publications such as documentaries and conversations among the recent historical science resources were also used. Comparative analysis of the issues that need to be confirmed was made with the data obtained from the interviews with the people who witnessed his life and the literature review. By keeping the research axis wide, all the details of the biography and the life of thought were tried to be manifested together with the historical flow. The biography of Dundar Taser, who seems to have a prominent place in Turkish political and ideas life after 1960, will contribute to new research on recent political and ideas history. Keywords: Dundar Taser, 27 May Coup, Republican Villagers Nation Party and the Nationalist Movement Party, Issues, Great Turkey