Liberalism in Turkey between 1921-1961

Liberalism is an ideology that accepts the freedom of individuals as its main goal. It has historically been shaped by Enlightenment thought. Since the 17th century, it has played an important role in the emergence of bourgeois revolutions and accepted rights declarations. This ideology, which has two dimensions, political and economic, expresses the limitation of the state power in order to ensure individual freedom with its political aspect. It expresses the freedom of enterprise and the free market with its economic aspect. Liberalism makes use of principles such as constitutionalism, the rule of law, separation of powers and human rights in order to limit state power. In the Ottoman Empire, the reforms made in the period of decline have liberal characteristics as they were made by taking the western example. These reforms, which started especially from the III. Selim period, were generally carried out in the military field and their main purpose was to return the empire to its old days. Liberal ideas were seen most concretely during the Tanzimat period The first constitution, on the other hand, is the Kanun-I Esasi adopted in 1876. However, all these innovations could not prevent the collapse of the empire. World War I, which broke out in 1914, brought the end of the Ottoman Empire. Continued execution of the national independence war led to the birth of the Republic of Turkey. Although liberal policies were observed between 1921 and 1929, especially in the economic field, it was not possible to continue these policies with the effect of the World Economic Crisis. Since this period, the dominant policy in the economy has been etatism. Political debates have also been about whether statism will be a permanent economic system or a temporary policy as a tool for the development of the private sector. Despite all the efforts made until the 1950s, it was not possible to establish a national industry and to create a national bourgeoisie. The liberalization wave seen in the early 1950s could not be permanent due to the economic difficulties experienced.