234 • 14 MODERNIZING RULERS IN THE INDEPENDENT STATESThe Legacy of Kemalism
The greatest tribute paid by the Turkish nation to Kemal since his death in
November 1938 is its continuation of the Kemalist program. To be sure,
some of the more extreme reforms have been moderated: The Quran and
the call to worship may now be chanted in Arabic, the Sufi orders have
been allowed to resume their activities, and many Turks flock to the
mosques on Fridays. But industrial and agricultural growth has moved
ahead even faster than during Kemal's lifetime. To many Turks, their
country is European, not Middle Eastern. Turkey has joined the North At¬
lantic Treaty Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development, and the Council of Europe. It hopes to become a full
member of the European Union, having revised its taxes and tariff duties,
improved its human rights policies with regard to its Kurdish citizens, and
made serious efforts to negotiate a settlement with Greek-ruled Cyprus.
Many Turks have worked in Europe, and those who have returned have
pressed for strong Western ties.
Although Turkey stayed out of World War II, it has since then built up
its military might under US tutelage and acquitted itself well in the war
against the communists in Korea. Because of communal strife between the
Greeks and Turks living in Cyprus, Turkey's armed forces intervened there
in 1974; from that time on, the Turks have controlled the northern third of
the island. Military experts rate Turkey's armed power second only to that
of Israel among the countries of the Middle East.
Ataturk's methods and achievements were impressive, but let us put
them into broader perspective. Keep in mind that his program was a link
in the chain of westernizing reforms from Selim's Nizam-i-jedid to Mah-
mud II, the Tanzimat era, Abdulhamid, the Young Turks, and Ziya Gokalp.
His ambivalent position between dictatorship and democracy may remind
you of Turkey's brief attempts at constitutional government in 1877 and
1908, or of its ongoing search for a political system that is both popular
and orderly. After Ataturk's death, Turkey evolved toward a two-party sys¬
tem, as the new Demokrat Party rose to challenge the Kemalist Republican
People's Party (RPP). After a free election in 1950, the Demokrats took
power peacefully, a rare occurrence in a Middle Eastern country. Basing its
power on the support of entrepreneurs, peasants, and pious Muslims, the
Demokrat Party grew so strong that it alarmed the army officers, who
overthrew the government in 1960. Under the army's watchful eye, civilian
politicians in 1961 drew up a constitution for what would be called the
Second Turkish Republic. They also outlawed the Demokrat Party and
hanged its leader. Yet the social forces that had made them popular soon
created a new challenge for the Kemalists in the army and the RPR This