Social state phenomenon in the State of the Republic of Turkey and social policies: 1923-1938

In this dissertation, how the social state phenomenon in the State of the Republic of Turkey between 1923 and 1938 is perceived and the framework of applied social policies is aimed to be detected.In the first chapter of the dissertation study, definitions of the state and social state concepts and social state understanding and applications in the Turkish States established until State of the Republic of Turkey is mentioned. In Chapter II social policies for farmers, in Chapter III social policies for workers and in Chapter IV social policies for children are discussed. In Chapter V social policies carried out in educational field, in Chapter VI social policies carried out in health field, in Chapter VII social policies carried out in railway construction field are studied. Tax collection policy of the state that collects taxes for applying social policy and then distributes it again is expressed in Chapter VIII. Chapter IX is allocated for social policies followed by the state during emergency situations such as fire, flood and earthquake.With this aim and within this scope the dissertation has been prepared by making use of Prime Ministry Republic Archives, MTA (Mineral Research and Exploration Institute) Archive, minute books in Grand National Assembly, government programme, journals and news papers of the period, statements of the administrators of the period and studies concerning the subject.According to the result of this study, social policy applications of the State of the Republic of Turkey are aimed at whole society as all of them were in a tight spot. If it is necessary to mention a priority, it can be said that dispelling the grievance affecting the whole society resulting from the wars continuing uninterruptedly for long years, the last of which is War of Independence, were given importance. Although it is assertive to say that the concept of social state in Turkey started with Atatürk Period, it should be accepted that the period between 1923 and 1938 is a milestone for also the ruler-ruled relations and foundation of social state understanding as in lots of fields.