Liberalism in Turkey
Encyclopedia
This article gives an overview of liberalism in Turkey
. It is limited to liberal
parties
with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary that parties have labeled themselves a liberal party.
, liberals in the Ottoman Empire proposed the United Kingdom
model which is known as Common Wealth. On the other hand, the Committee of Union and Progress
emphasized the nationalism
over Turks
to survive from the obvious end. The Committee of Union and Progress applied this policy after they took control of the government by force in 1908. However, the disintegration of the empire after World War I
was accelerated due to this policy and led to the founding of the Republic of Turkey in Anatolia
as a nation-state that is primarily populated by Turks.
, the liberal movement was restricted with force by the Committee of Union and Progress
and its successor the Republican People's Party
after World War I
. Attempts to found quasi-liberal parties were for unsuccessful in most areas of the country. Turkey didn't have a traditional liberal current till Turgut Özal
took power. Even though he formed a right-wing (Motherland Party
) government, he is recognized as a liberal politician.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. It is limited to liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary that parties have labeled themselves a liberal party.
Background
The first liberals in Turkish history appeared when the nations in the control of the empire started to depart due to Nationalist movement. To stop the decomposition of the Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, liberals in the Ottoman Empire proposed the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
model which is known as Common Wealth. On the other hand, the Committee of Union and Progress
Committee of Union and Progress
The Committee of Union and Progress began as a secret society established as the "Committee of Ottoman Union" in 1889 by the medical students İbrahim Temo, Abdullah Cevdet, İshak Sükuti and Ali Hüseyinzade...
emphasized the nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
over Turks
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
to survive from the obvious end. The Committee of Union and Progress applied this policy after they took control of the government by force in 1908. However, the disintegration of the empire after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
was accelerated due to this policy and led to the founding of the Republic of Turkey in Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
as a nation-state that is primarily populated by Turks.
History
Although liberalism played a minimal role in the modernization of the Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, the liberal movement was restricted with force by the Committee of Union and Progress
Committee of Union and Progress
The Committee of Union and Progress began as a secret society established as the "Committee of Ottoman Union" in 1889 by the medical students İbrahim Temo, Abdullah Cevdet, İshak Sükuti and Ali Hüseyinzade...
and its successor the Republican People's Party
Republican People's Party
Republican People's Party may be:*Republican People's Party *Republican People's Party *Republican Popular Party See also:* Russian Republican People's Party...
after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Attempts to found quasi-liberal parties were for unsuccessful in most areas of the country. Turkey didn't have a traditional liberal current till Turgut Özal
Turgut Özal
Halil Turgut Özal was Prime Minister of Turkey and President of Turkey . As Prime Minister, he transformed the economy of Turkey by paving the way for the privatization of many state enterprises.-Early life and career:...
took power. Even though he formed a right-wing (Motherland Party
Motherland Party
Motherland Party is the name of several parties:-See also:*Fatherland Party *List of generic names of political parties....
) government, he is recognized as a liberal politician.
Freedom and Unity Party
- 1911: As a reaction to dictatorial tendencies, the liberal Freedom and Unity Party (Hürriyet ve İtilaf Fırkası) is founded.
- 1912: The party is banned.
Ottoman Liberal People's Party / Freedom Party
- 1918: Fethi Okyar founded in 1918 the Ottoman Liberal People's Party (Osmanlı Hürriyet-perver Avam Fırkası)
- 1920: The party disappeared.
- 1930: In an attempt to allow a legal opposition party, Atatürk encouraged Okyar to found the Freedom Party (Hürriyet Fırkası), also rendered as Serbest Cumhuriyet Fırkası (Liberal Republic Party).
- 1930: The party attracted huge number of dissident people of the Kemalist bureaucracy's harsh policies. The founder of the party, Okyar, dissolved his own party, fearing that it was becoming a rallying ground for counter-reformists against the secular republic.
Freedom Party
- 1956: A liberal faction of the Democratic Party founded the Freedom Party (Hürriyet Partisi).
- 1958: The party merged into the Republican People's PartyRepublican People's PartyRepublican People's Party may be:*Republican People's Party *Republican People's Party *Republican Popular Party See also:* Russian Republican People's Party...
.
New Turkey Party
- 1961: A moderate faction of the former Democratic Party established after the ban of the latter party the New Turkey PartyNew Turkey PartyNew Turkey Party was a political party in Turkey. It was founded in 2002 following a leadership crisis in the Democratic Left Party that was the major partner in a three party coalition government....
(Yeni Türkiye Partisi). - 1973: After initial success the party became unsuccessful and is dissolved.
Liberal Democratic Party
- 1994: Founded on July 26 as Liberal Party by former (Demokrat Parti) members and Besim Tibuk, first president
- 1996: The Liberal Party changed its name to Liberal Democratic PartyLiberal Democratic Party (Turkey)The Liberal Democratic Party is a liberal party in Turkey. LDP was founded in 1994 as Liberal Parti by Turkish entrepreneur Besim Tibuk. Besim Tibuk was the consultant of Turgut Özal till he died in 17 April 1993...
- 2002: Besim Tibuk resigns as president on November 25.
See also
- History of TurkeyHistory of the Republic of TurkeyThe Republic of Turkey was created after the overthrow of Sultan Mehmet VI Vahdettin by the new Republican Parliament in 1922. This new regime delivered the coup de grâce to the Ottoman state which had been practically wiped away from the world stage following the First World War.-Single-party...
- Politics of TurkeyPolitics of TurkeyPolitics of Turkey takes place in a framework of a strictly secular parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Turkey is the head of government, and of a multi-party system...
- List of political parties in Turkey