Kemalism

Kemalism is the founding ideology of the Republic of Turkey, derived from the policies and writings of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his early Republican leadership. It emerged during and after the Turkish War of Independence (1919–1923) and provided the framework for transforming the Ottoman successor state into a modern, secular, nationalist republic.

Its core is the set of six principles commonly known as the Six Arrows: Republicanism, Nationalism, Populism (halkçılık), Secularism (laicism), Statism (devletçilik), and Reformism (devrimcilik). These arrows guided both political structure and social policy, emphasizing a sovereign, elected republic; a Turkish national identity; mass participation in politics; separation of religion and state; state-led economic development; and continual modernization.

Key reforms associated with Kemalism included the abolition of the sultanate and later the caliphate, the establishment of a secular civil legal system, the adoption of the Latin alphabet in 1928, and extensive educational and cultural reforms. Religious orders were restricted, and religious affairs were brought under state supervision through institutions such as the Directorate of Religious Affairs (1924). The regime promoted gender equality in law and education, with women gaining suffrage in 1934. The state pursued a centralized, modernizing program and a Western-oriented foreign policy.

Legacy and evaluation remain contested. Kemalism shaped the early one-party period and continues to influence Turkish politics as a reference point for secularism, nationalism, and modernization. Critics highlight its coercive aspects and limits on political pluralism, while supporters view it as a foundation for a modern, unified Turkish state.