Kemalism and the Historical Formationn of the Intellectual Foundations

Abstract

Kemalism is product of the Turkish revolution, which started with the Turkish İndependent War. The term of Kemalism was first used by Western authors; later in Turkish, it was referred to as "Atatürkçülük". Western authors referred to these Atatürk's principles as Kemalism, thus confering on term the sense an ideology. The Kemalist movement was one of the most well-known nationalist and independent experiments in post War One area. Kemalism is not a doctrinaire. Kemalism is a anti- imperialist ideology and impact of the middle eastren communities. Kemalism is important, however, not only as an ideology. Its importance stems from the fact that it has become the symbol of successful resistance to the Westren domination. Therefore, it is clearly neccessary to consider Kemalism among the democratics ideologies, which are Rationalistic and Pragmatic, rather than among dogmatic totalitarian ideologies. The main thesis of this paper; is that Kemalizm should be viewed as a revolutinary ideology and as a symbol has had on the political development of many Asia and Africa and specially Middle Eastren countries as well as to same extent Latin America. Kemalizm had impact on the underdeveloped countries leaders for example ; Gandhi, Nehru, Muhammed Ali Cinnah, Cemal Abdül Nasser, Habib Bourgiba, Hayri Boumedienne. Kemalism is an ideology of underdevelopment, the first such ideology to emerge in a developing country and to be tested historical practice.