The Ottoman Dynasty, founded by Osman Gazi (died in 1324) after the collapse of the Selgiuchide Empire in 1299, lives at the dawn of the twentieth century in inexorable decline, generated in grand part by the interests and the manipulation of eastern affairs by some western countries and by the formation of the "Pan-Arabism" movement, to works of non Turkish Muslim groups (see the work of Neguib Azuri of 1905, "The re-awakening of the Arab nation.") Egypt is practically autonomous from Istanbul (but not from England), the attempts of 1904-1905 to regain actual control of central Arabia and the Yemen, by now independent, fail. The central ottoman authorities attempt to form a Pan-Islamism movement capable of slowing down the centrifugal forces in progress, but the events that follow in the course of the years that lead up to the First World War mark the end of the grand project of Turkish sultan and leave the way open to the nationalist movements. The political and despotic stiffening of the sultanAbdul Hamit II lays the basis for the creation of an adverse home front, represented by the reformist movement, emerging in I908, of Young Turks, that arrives in 1909 to depose the Sultan.
A Democratic constitution is installed and a Parliament established (which follows the first one installed in 1877 and dissolved in 1878). The government of the Young Turks, with the support of a new sultan Mehemet V, after a democratic start, embarks on a dictatorial and oppressive policy towards the non-Muslem minority of the Empire. On an international level, the empire suffered heavy military defeats: in the Libyan war, when Italy occupied Libya (1912) and the war against the Four Balcan states, formed by Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Montenegro which reduces the Turkish possessions in Europe at Constantinople
(peace of London of 1913). Turkey enters the First World War alongside
the imperial powers of Germany and Austria (Turkey had to be a political-military power, in the East, corresponding to Germany in Europe); following the defeat immediately after the Great War, Turkey has to give up all territories ethnically non Turk, accept serious limitations to her sovereignty, bear the presence of foreign troops on her own territory (the French in Cilicia, the Italians in Adalia) (Treaty of Sevres of 1920) and undergo, in 1919, the loss to the Greeks of the coastal Egean zone.
MUSTAFA' KEMAL "ATATURK"
Mustafa Kemal "Ataturk", or the "father of modern Turkey", comes into the
spotlight as head of the movement opposing the Treaty of Sèvres and in the
Government of the Sultan; He is a government rebel in Ankara, claiming
independence and integrity of Turkish territory, and renouncing the ideal of empire. In 1920 the Grand National Assembly of Turkey follows the indications of Kemal and delegates him the powers of government. In two years The Kemal forces manage to defeat the Greeks and push them back beyond the coasts of Anatolia, notwithstanding English support of Greece; the Italians are forced to withdraw, as also the French; The Peace of Lausanne of 1923 restores to the new Turkey the right, as in the past, to re-arm in case of war, the Straits. The elections of 1923, which see the victory of the Republican Party, lead to the election of Kemal as President of the Republic. In fifteen years of power, (1923-1938) supported by a government of national union, he carries out a series of reforms, like the abolition of Islam as official religion of the state, the laicization of teaching, the promulgation of new civil codes (civil code swiss and penal code italian), the adoption of the Latin alphabet and the Gregorian calendar, the abolition of polygamy, reform of the judiciary system, re-organisation of credit, right to vote of women, (in 1934), construction of a system of equilibrium in international politics so as to consolidate peace in the region.
The appellation of "Ataturk", "father of the Turks", was conferred on him in 1935.
He died in 1938 and Ismet Inonu succeeded him.
Up to 1945 the country remained politically neutral, and did not enter war
with the Allies against Germany.
In succeeding years there a pluriparty system is installed and in 1946 Turkey enters the United Nations. In 1952 Turkey becomes a member of NATO and takes part in the war in Korea. A free market policy is adopted in these years, but in
1960, following an economic crisis, a military "coup de' Etat" overthrows the government of the democratic party and dissolves the National Assembly. The prime minister Adnan Menderes is arrested and executed.
Between 1961 and 1971 Turkey returns to the principles of Ataturk and proclaims the Second Republic adopting a new constitution. The new liberalist and nationalist policy which follows does not improve the continuing economic crisis. Terrorist groups are formed, rebellions and urban guerrilla warfare follows.
Warfare with demonstrations, controlled with great difficulty, in spite of the preventative declaration of state of siege actuated and denominated "White Coup". The seventies are characterised by a fragile political and economic situation (with a sharp devaluation of the currency) and many Turkish citizens, leave the country to seek work abroad there is an increase in terrorism and there emerges also, the Cypress dispute with Greece: Turkey occupies the southern part of the island and still today the dispute remains unresolved.
Between 1980 and 1982 a new military "coup de' Etat" abolished the Constitution of
1961 and the existence of political parties. It is a period of hard repressions, arrests of politicians and intellectuals. From an international point of view, the
country is isolated and all links with the European Community are broken.
TOWARDS DEMOCRATISATION
In 1983 the military agree to the calling of tightly controlled parliamentary elections. The ANAP party, or Party of the Fatherland of Turgut Ozal, wins, with an overwhelming majority for the first time in thirty years. Ozal rapidly launches a programme of economic and social reforms which give impetus to the growth of the country. There is an end of Turkey's political isolation, leading to re-admission into the Council of Europe.
In 1987 Ozal presents the request for the entrance of Turkey into the European Community as a full member; the conditions for the acceptance of Turkey are for Europeans the advancement the democratisation process regarding human Rights.
In 1996 the customs union is sanctioned with countries of the European Community, and the death penalty is abolished.
In 2003 the European Commission establishes, granted the fulfilment of
requested conditions, the entry of Turkey, into the Union, by 1911.
