UNIVERSITY WEEK ACTIVITIES ORGANIZED IN THE EASTERN AND SOUTHEAST ANATOLIAN PROVINCES DURING THE SINGLE PARTY PERIOD AND THE ACADEMICIAN’S PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THE REGION’S ISSUES (1940-1945)

Abstract

Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions were in poor conditions in terms of development in the first years of the Republic compared to other regions due to various reasons. This situation was wanted to be adjusted by the country’s administrators and academicians. In this study, the issue of University Week activities organized by Istanbul University and Ankara University to spread the scientific and national culture in the regions mentioned and to make the country’s issues the subject of university studies were discussed. In these activities, we
examined the activities between 1940 and 1945 to indicate the policies followed in the region during the Single Party Period through the eyes of the university intelligentsia. During these years, four of the five events arranged by Istanbul University in the country, and two of the four events of Ankara University were arranged in the Eastern and Southeastern provinces.

In addition, in the conferences given at the events, the governmental policies in the region in those years were appreciated. During the conferences, some recommendations were made to both the administrators and the public for the development of the region. Among the conference topics, especially health issues were given more priority. In the events, doctor participants were also busy with the examination and surgery of hundreds of people. In this way, they helped the people of the region both scientifically and practically.

In the study, archival documents, newspapers of the period and other sources were used.