What is cumhuritey, and why do millions of people care about it? This word might sound unfamiliar, but it represents something huge. Something that changed Turkey forever. Over 84 million Turkish citizens live under republican values today. And these values started exactly 100 years ago in 2023.
The story of cumhuritey connects to every Turkish person’s daily life. From the schools they attend to the rights they enjoy. But many people don’t understand what it really means. Or why it matters so much for Turkey’s future.
What Is Cumhuritey and Where Does It Come From?
Cumhuritey is a variant of “cumhuriyet,” which means republic in Turkish. The word comes from Arabic, but it represents something completely Turkish. It all started on October 29, 1923, when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk proclaimed the Republic of Turkey. This wasn’t just a name change. It was a revolution.
Before 1923, Turkey was part of the Ottoman Empire. People had sultans and religious rule. But Atatürk wanted something different. He wanted cumhuriyet – a system where people choose their leaders. Where laws come from the Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (parliament), not from kings or religious authorities.
The Turkish War of Independence made this dream possible. İsmet İnönü and other leaders fought alongside Atatürk. They started in Samsun and ended up creating a whole new country. The Lausanne Treaty in 1923 made it official. Turkey became a republic, and cumhuritey became the foundation of everything.
Why Is Cumhuritey Important in Politics and Daily Life?
Republican values shape how Turkish people live every single day. Take democracy, for example. Citizens can vote for president and parliament members because of cumhuritey principles. The Yüksek Seçim Kurulu makes sure elections are fair. And the Anayasa Mahkemesi protects people’s rights.
Laiklik (secularism) is another huge part of cumhuritey. This means religion and government stay separate. Schools teach science, not just religious subjects. Women got seçme ve seçilme hakkı (voting rights) in 1934 – way before many other countries. These kadın hakları cumhuriyet dönemi reforms changed everything for Turkish women.
But cumhuritey isn’t just about politics. It affects education, too. The 1928 Harf Devrimi (alphabet reform) made reading easier. İstanbul Üniversitesi and Ankara Üniversitesi Siyasal Bilgiler Fakültesi became centers of modern learning. Students today benefit from these cumhuriyet dönemi inkılapları (reforms) that started decades ago.
How Has Cumhuritey Shaped Turkish Culture and Media?
Media plays a huge role in defending cumhuritey values. Cumhuriyet Gazetesi has been fighting for press freedom since 1924. Journalists like İlhan Selçuk and Uğur Mumcu wrote bravely about democracy. Even when it was dangerous.
Literature also embraced republican ideals. Yaşar Kemal and Aziz Nesin wrote stories that celebrated the Turkish people. Orhan Pamuk, who won the Nobel Prize, explores these themes in his books. The Cumhuriyet Kitap Eki still promotes reading and culture today.
But it hasn’t always been easy. Editors and writers faced pressure during military coups. The 1960 Coup and 1980 Coup tested cumhuritey principles. Journalists like Can Dündar and Ahmet Şık continued working despite challenges. They knew that cumhuriyet ve basın özgürlüğü (republic and press freedom) go together.
What Challenges Does Cumhuritey Face in Modern Times?
Today’s cumhuritey faces new problems. Political polarization affects how people see republican values. Some support the Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (CHP) vision. Others prefer the Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (AKP) approach. Leaders like Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, and Ekrem İmamoğlu have different ideas about Turkey’s future.
Press freedom struggles continue. Newspapers like Sözcü, Hürriyet, and BirGün sometimes face restrictions. The cumhuriyet davası (court cases) against journalists worries many people. Social media and sites like T24 and OdaTV try to keep information flowing. But it’s not always easy.
The 2016 Coup Attempt shocked everyone. It showed that people still need to protect democratic values. The Beştepe Cumhurbaşkanlığı Külliyesi and Çankaya Köşkü represent different eras of leadership. Both remind us that cumhuritey needs constant care and attention.
Why Should We Care About Cumhuritey for the Future?
The 2023 Centennial of the Republic is special. It marks 100 years since Atatürk’s revolution. Young people in Cumhuriyet Caddesi in Istanbul and Ankara carry these values forward. They visit Anıtkabir to remember the past. And they think about the future.
Cumhuritey matters because it gave Turkish people freedom. The right to choose leaders. The right to speak freely. The right to get an education. These aren’t small things. They’re everything.
History teaches us that democracy is fragile. The Gençliğe Hitabe (Address to the Youth) reminds young Turks to protect their republic. Whether through politics, journalism, or just being good citizens, everyone has a role. From İzmir to Ankara, from universities to neighborhoods, cumhuritey lives in people’s hearts.
Conclusion
Cumhuritey isn’t just an old word or a history lesson. It’s the foundation of modern Turkey. From Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s vision to today’s debates, republican values shape millions of lives. Democracy, secularism, education, and press freedom all flow from this single concept.
