Physical education and sports as a political socialization device; workers' sport and its effects on Turkey (1923-1938)

This qualitative research is focused on the use of Workers? Sport movement, which effected most parts of the world during the inter-war period in terms of political socialization, as a social change device of societies and its direct and indirect effects on Early Republican Turkey which was founded during the same period.At the beginning of the research the conceptual frame of political socialization is presented and afterwards the historical and philosophical foundations of Workers? Sport are brought into discussion. Thus the relationship between Workers? Sport and modern sport, the contradictions and internal conflicts of Workers? Sport movement is debated. In the second part of the research detailed information on national and international organizational models of Workers? Sport is presented.The second part of the research which focuses on Turkey starts with the discussions on the ideological foundations of Republican Turkey and the social facts and institutions on which these foundations are built, then the effects of physical education and sport policies with reference to political socialization process of the new nation is elaborated.At the end of the research it is pointed out that a real national level Workers? Sport organization has never occurred in Turkey, still workers? sport as a strong social and political cultural movement, had various effects on the Turkish physical education and sport policies.