Basis of Kemalist Thought: Secularism

Abstract

One of the main pillars of political philosophy, giving life to the Republic of Turkey is undoubtedly secularism. Republican cadres, who undertook the mission of creating a modern national state from a theocratic and multinational medieval empire, of course had to reject the traditional state philosophy that sustained the Ottoman system. In a society, if the legal system, state and community management philosophy is based on religion, in other words, divine orders and rules, it is possible to go beyond these rules and orders in both political and social life. As in all theocracies, the basic philosophy on which the Ottoman society and state order, which aims to establish and maintain the divine order, was closed to debate and change. Therefore, religion has been both the creator and the guarantee of a stable, change-resistant society.