The Principles of Kemalism

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881- 1938) is not generallyknown as a "builder" of theories. it was his deliberatechoice not to leave behind an "inflexible doctrine". Hewanted his teachings to be dynamic views suiting the needto become contemporary in every way. Ideologies, no doubt.play a role in all regimes. Many states even seek to solvetheir problems with the impact of a parti cu lar doctrine.it is only natural that a mavement like the Kemalist Revolutian should have its own set of values.This paper aims, first, to summarize Turkish andforeign intellectual impact on Mustafa Kemal, to be followed by a short bibliographical display of his own writings,with a conseqüent definition of the Six Principles (Altı Ok)that he authored, with a further discussion of attempts,principally by a group of thinkers and writers around themonthly Kadro (The Cadre) to systematize Kemalist principles. it may not be wrong to say that the paper will mainlydwell on the Kadro Movement, the rest serving as prelude. 

The Principles of Kemalism

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881- 1938) is not generallyknown as a "builder" of theories. it was his deliberatechoice not to leave behind an "inflexible doctrine". Hewanted his teachings to be dynamic views suiting the needto become contemporary in every way. Ideologies, no doubt.play a role in all regimes. Many states even seek to solvetheir problems with the impact of a parti cu lar doctrine.it is only natural that a mavement like the Kemalist Revolutian should have its own set of values.This paper aims, first, to summarize Turkish andforeign intellectual impact on Mustafa Kemal, to be followed by a short bibliographical display of his own writings,with a conseqüent definition of the Six Principles (Altı Ok)that he authored, with a further discussion of attempts,principally by a group of thinkers and writers around themonthly Kadro (The Cadre) to systematize Kemalist principles. it may not be wrong to say that the paper will mainlydwell on the Kadro Movement, the rest serving as prelude.