Turkish - Bulgarian Relat Ions Within the Kemalist Era
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УПРАВЛЕНИЕ И ОБРАЗОВАНИЕ MANAGEMENT AND EDUCATION TOM VIII (3) 2012 VOL. VIII (3) 2012 TURKISH - BULGARIAN RELAT İONS WITHIN THE KEMALIST ERA A. Baran Dural ТУРСКО -БЪЛГАРСКИ ОТНОШЕНИЯ ПО ВРЕМЕ НА КЕМАЛИСТКАТА ЕРА А. Баран Дурал ABSTRACT: At this point, like many other wrong Western-based ideas, the idea which claims that “Ottoman Empire was a federation of theocracies” (KYML İCKA, 1997: 156-158) is so problematic. Some can easily assume that Ottoman Empire was actually a Balkan empire. When one can combine the mission of “Eastern Roman Emperor” some Ottoman sultans used not only as a judicial title and as a means of Ottoman hinterland, but also for their personal destiny and the “Eastern Roma-Byzantium” tradition taken over. with that title, one can understand Ottoman state tradition more easily. Ottoman Empire was a Balkan Empire when the roots of “devshirmeh”s (Young Christian boys recruited from different parts of the Empire. Talented ones became even grand-viziers later on), governors, commanders, viziers or artists that flourished the Empire, is being considered. After Tanzimat period, by modernizing the army, introducing the new higher education institutions where positivist curriculum was taught the state recovered its power. The Ottoman society that met initially nationalist then liberal ideas especially after the loss of the Balkan countries. Both the Otoman Empire and the Kemalist leadership discovered the importance of struggle for economic independence during the era of Young Turks. In this sense, the revolution was both a sign of departure from and continuity of the Ottomans. The Republics’ elite who were also composed of Balkan oriented leaders shows the significance of Balkans regioın for the Turkish traditional state manners. In this article Turkish- Bulgarian relations within the Kemalist Era will be discussed, due to the explained conceptual framework above. Keywords: Kemalist Era. Turkey. Bulgaria, Turkish Independence War, Ottoman Empire Introduction: The origins of the Balkan In fact, the search for the turning of the route Turkish State of Turkish society to the West doesn’t start with Kemalist Revolution, but it is brought to a solid The philosophical origins of Ottoman Empire ground in the era of Atatürk. After the Tanzimat, have been the subject of different discussions in with the modernization of the army, and with the both Western and Eastern intellectual history. In opening of military-civilian higher education this context, for the thesis of Will Kymlicka institutions that was dominated by positivist about being a "federation of theocracies" of education system, the state began to get around Ottoman Empire can be countered with a typical the power that it lost. Especially with the effects antithesis about being a typical Balkan Empire of of Balkan countries detached from the Ottoman Ottoman Empire. When it is turned over not only state, Kemalist leadership also as the Ottoman in terms of the legal order of the emperor and the society that was introduced with the idea of state's hinterland, but also with the Roman nationalism and then freedom discovered the Empire mission that they assimilate into their importance of economic independence fight personal fate, and with the tradition of Eastern before with the Young Turk Revolution. In this Roman-Byzantine that this mission is inherited sense, the revolution is an indication of both from, it can be grasped the Ottoman State detachment from the Ottomans and its tradition more easily. The origin, upbringing continuity. That the significant portion of the style of the administrators, commanders, viziers staff that was charged in Kemalist period based and craftsmen who were trained in the reused on the origins of Balkan shows the importance of system, and geographical distribution of the the geography of Balkan in terms of the lands that the state gave the most importance traditional origins of Turkish state. In this article, were examined, it can be understood that the the Turkish-Bulgarian relations in Kemalist era Ottoman Empire is a typical Balkan Empire. 15 will be discussed in line with the perspective the issue of peasants’ location was being described above. discussed in Turkish Revolution is important. While Mustafa Kemal was sitting alone in a Mustafa Kemal as Sofia Military Attaché stylish Bulgarian patisserie, the waiters didn’t want to show a place for a peasant because of his In the formation of the Kemalist period clothing. The peasant demanded his justice and Turkish-Bulgarian relations, the appointment of complained about the workplace and the Mustafa Kemal as Military Attaché in Sofia on patisserie that was accused of discrimination October 25, 1923 is considered as a turning accepted their mistake, and apologized to the point. There are two different views about being Bulgarian villager. In later years, Mustafa Kemal sent of Mustafa Kemal to this region in the field evaluated the attitude of the villager under the of political history. According to the first of headings as "protecting the sense of citizenship", them, M. Kemal was sent to the region in exile and the attitude of the Bulgarian police as "equal by the central government. The second one also treatment of citizens / importance given to the advocates that he was sent for being recovered of rights of citizens. (SU, 1977: 2-64), (ATAY, the stained relations with Bulgaria during the 2010:2-108) According to some historians, the Balkan wars. At that time, it is known that an origins of the principle that has a deep meaning inner-strife was experienced under the leadership the Kemalist narrative, "the masters of the nation of Union and Progress Party. Mustafa Kemal is are villagers" relies under the said event. After among the prominent names and comes at the Mustafa Kemal had successful contacts and good beginning of the ones who make opposition to relationship in Sophia that he had went there Enver, Talat and Cemal Pashas who have been very reluctantly he returned home on 20 January known as "Right Unionists” recently. Therefore, 1915 (TÜMENO ĞLU, 2006). being evaluated as “exile” of his being appointed to Sofia is seen as more consistent (DURAL, Alliance in the Period of World War I 2009: 118-130). The activities of Mustafa Kemal during the Balkan Wars is a turning point in terms of the time he was in Bulgaria are grouped under three Ottoman-Bulgarian relations. Because of the main headings. They are to work for the conditions during and after the war, the relations improvement of relations with Bulgaria, to between the two countries have reached the most collect information on military matters and to negative phase. However, that both countries obtain information about the status of the participate in World War II in order to eliminate Turkish minority. Mustafa Kemal who followed the losses experienced during the Balkan Wars a multi-faceted and reasonable policy in order to combines them in a common point. Bulgaria obtain the necessary success in these activities joined the block of Central Powers in which the established friendships with people of Ottoman Empire existed in 1915. During the war considerable elite people from both public and the relations between the two countries that were military-civilian bureaucracy primarily in in the same block entered into the softening and Bulgaria. He saw the benefits of these good friendship process. Bulgarian and Turkish troops relations in a short and long term. For example in fought together in some of the fronts during the 1914 elections 17 deputies of Turkish origins war. The repressive policies against the Turks in were elected to Bulgarian MPs. Besides, thanks Bulgaria ended in this period. That Turks take to the relationships developed in Sofia, he could place in the agricultural sector intensively, that get considerable help from his Bulgarian Bulgarian army is nourished from agricultural colleagues during the national struggle. products produced in the regions where there Sofia reflected the rapid appearance of a city was a density of the Turks during the war get the in the first quarter 20th century Westernizing. In Bulgarian management and the Turkish minority view of seeing the transformation of Bulgaria, closer. In light of these positive developments, the striking events in this city which serves the new Turkish-Bulgarian cultural and/or almost "litmus paper” will be located in the friendship associations have been established in thoughts of Mustafa Kemal at his leadership Bulgaria; the theme of ethnic brotherhood of period and he would put his thoughts and ideas Bulgarians and Turks was emphasized (Coskun, to life when the time came. Among these events, 2001:9). especially an anecdotal that passed at a pastry shop and Mustafa Kemal said very often when 16 Bulgarian Support for National Struggle Bulgarian administration and Ankara Government as: The period after the First World War was a bane for both countries. Ottomans cccording to From Stamboliyski Rule to Lausanne Article 32 of Moudros Armistice and the Bulgarians according to article 3 of the Treaty of "Although Stamboliyski Government was Bulgaria in Thessaloniki had to cut off defeated in the war, they didn’t allow to be used diplomatic relations with each other. In of Bulgaria as a Kemalist base. In return, conclusion of these treatments, the task of Mustafa Kemal wrote a letter to Stamboliyski on protecting the rights of Bulgarians in Turkey was behalf of the Parliament on 30 Nisan.1920. After given to Swedish Embassy, and the task of Mustafa Kemal mentioned being dispersed of the protecting the rights of Turks in Bulgaria was Ottoman parliament in Istanbul and being given to Spanish Embassy. (TU ĞLACI, 1984: arrested of the deputies in this letter, he 21) The limitations that were brought by the mentioned the recognition of the parliament treaties gave harm to Turkish-Bulgarian relations gathered in Ankara and the purpose and scope of have damaged in a large extent and brought to a the struggle.