British experts employed in Türkiye and their contribution to Turkish modernization (1924-1975)

In this study, the areas of employment of the British who were employed between 1924 and 1975, their employment durations, types of employment, and their contribution to the modernization process of Türkiye were discussed using the prosopography method. It is the first postgraduate dissertation on the employment of the British and their contributions to Turkish modernization in the Republican era. In the first chapter of the study, the resources reached as a result of web and literature searches in libraries were used. In the sections related to the British experts, which is the main subject of the study, the decrees determined in the relevant funds of the Republic Archive of the Presidency of the State Archives, the web searches about the British experts identified in these decrees, and the information obtained in the articles and works were used. In the first chapter, examples of non-Western modernization were examined. Modernization and modernization studies in Russia, Egypt, Ottoman, Iran, Japan, and Afghanistan, especially those focusing on modernization due to foreign experts' employment, were emphasized. Turkish-British relations, starting from the first British diplomat's arrival into the Sublime Porte and the subsequent developments, were discussed through domestic and foreign sources. Turkish-British relations during the National Struggle and Turkish-British relations in the Republican period were examined. In the second chapter, general evaluations of the employment laws of British experts, their wages and employment areas and their contributions to Turkish modernization were examined by compiling the information of British experts employed in the field of education. In the third chapter, the contributions of British experts employed in the field of industry to Turkish modernization due to their employment in various industrial establishments and factories, Karabük Iron-Steel Factory, and Construction and mining areas are examined within the axis of Turkish-British relations. The data obtained about the British experts employed in the military field and the contribution of the British to Turkish modernization in the military field were analyzed in terms of Turkish-British diplomatic relations. Categorized as "Employed in Other Fields," British experts' contributions to Turkish modernization in health, archeology, maritime, central organizations of ministries, telephone-telegraph, and agriculture were examined. In this study, the decrees identified in the relevant funds of the Presidency of State Archives Republic Archive and the internet searches made about the British experts identified in these decrees, and as a result of the literature reviews, the employment areas, employment periods, employment institutions, wages, academic titles were recorded in tables. The statistics of comparisons under various headings in all fields were shown in tables and graphs. Beginning with the second chapter, the memoirs of the British experts were used to examine their employment in Türkiye and their contributions. The British experts, assigned to their respective institutions in line with the modernization goals of the Republic of Türkiye, have contributed to the growth of local experts in modern Türkiye and the establishment of institutions, particularly utilizing their expertise. In the education sector, where the most significant amount of British experts were employed, numerous linguists have been employed, especially following the replacement of French with English in the state. It is understood that these experts have significantly shaped Türkiye's foreign language teaching strategy over the years. In addition, many competent individuals from various fields have contributed to the Turkish education sector by establishing new departments and progressing in their areas of expertise. The field of fine arts, which had yet to show much development due to socio-cultural factors, has particularly benefited from the contribution of British experts in training locally and internationally qualified specialists, especially in conservatories and ballet. In the industrial sector, their involvement in the construction and operation of the Karabük Iron-Steel Factory reveals their complete responsibility in ensuring the training of competent local experts. The employment of British experts in the Ottoman Navy transitioned to the Air Force during the Republic era, where they contributed to military training, discipline, and defense during World War II. Observations indicate that relationships and employment have evolved alongside the historical changes in the process. Keywords: Turkish Modernization, Foreign Expert, Foreign Expert Employment, British Expert