About the Course (ATİ)

Anasayfa » About the Course (ATİ)

The aim of lesson

The purpose of Ataturk’s Principles and History of Revolution courses; To raise new generations who will understand and develop the spirit and goals of the Turkish Revolution. Thus, as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk said; “Those who understand the purpose of the revolution will have the power to constantly preserve it.” In order to understand the purpose of the Turkish Revolution, which is a continuation of the Turkish modernization process that has continued for centuries, to know this historical process, to give accurate information about the process leading to the Turkish War of Independence, the War of Independence, Ataturk’s Revolutions and the Ataturkist Thought System and the History of the Republic of Turkey, to educate the Turkish youth on the Ataturkist Thought System. It is necessary to train in line with the system. Ataturk’s Principles and Revolutions course has undertaken this task. Ataturk’s Principles and History of Revolution courses are of indispensable importance for the continuity of the Republican regime, the establishment of new institutions, the dissemination and development of the Ataturkist Thought System and the modernization of our nation. The aim and purpose of the Ataturk Principles and Revolutions course taught with this philosophy can be expressed as follows. 1) To give accurate information about the conditions created by the War of Independence, the phases of the Turkish War of Independence, the History of the Republic of Turkey, Ataturk’s Principles and Revolutions and the Ataturkist Thought System. 2) To ensure a correct understanding of Ataturk’s Principles and Revolutions and to raise awareness among young people to defend and develop these reforms and principles. 3) To teach new generations that the Republic of Turkey with its State, Nation and Country is an indivisible whole and to ensure the integration of Turkish Youth within this ideal. 4) To provide accurate information about the Republic of Turkey, Ataturk’s principles and reforms, and threats to Ataturkist thought.

History of the Course

The history of the Ataturk Principles and Revolution History Course, which aims to explain to university youth the conditions under which the Republic of Turkey was founded and to make them adopt the Ataturkist Thought and the philosophy and principles on which it is based, as well as contemporary values, goes back to the first years of the Republic. In this context, in the Adliye Law School, which was first opened in Ankara, a course called “History of Revolutions” began to be taught in 1925, in line with the wishes of Mahmut Esat Bozkurt and Cemil Bilsel, one of the founders of the school. Within the scope of this course, it is aimed to reveal the characteristics of the Turkish Revolution and compare it with previous revolutionary processes. Thus, the course in question has entered the higher education program, although it is not systematic.

The aim of the Revolution History Courses given since the early 1930s was to bring the Republican regime to the people and to make them embrace the revolutions. These courses, which were continued within the scope of the newly formed history thesis and university reform, gained new momentum with the establishment of a Revolution History Institute at Istanbul University and the Revolution Chair affiliated with the Faculty of Law in Ankara. The fact that the then Minister of National Education Yusuf Hikmet Bayur gave the Revolution History Lectures at Istanbul University on March 4, 1934, and Prime Minister İsmet İnönü in Ankara on March 20, 1934, added a new dimension to the process. Mahmut Esat Bozkurt and Recep Peker, who were among the leading staff of the revolution, also gave Revolution History courses. Broadcasting these lectures in the form of conferences on radio and newspapers also made them widespread.

Later, the responsibility of the Turkish Revolution History course was given to the Turkish Revolution History Institute, which was established by Law No. 4204 on April 15, 1942, affiliated with Ankara University, Faculty of Languages, History and Geography.

The name of the course was changed to “History of Revolution and the Regime of the Republic of Turkey” and became a threshold in faculties and colleges. In the new period that started with the coup of May 27, 1960; The content of the course was changed and it was decided that it would be taught for two semesters in faculties and for one year in higher schools. By the decision of the advisory board of the Turkish Revolution History Institute, which met on March 20, 1968, the name of the course was changed to “Turkish Revolution History”. Starting from February 1, 1971, the Turkish Revolution History Institute rethought the purpose, nature and feature of the Revolution History Course and prepared a new draft law in order to make it accepted by the public and to carry out more efficient studies.

After September 12, 1980, the name of the course was changed again from the word Revolution to Revolution, and in the process, the name of the course was changed to “Ataturk’s Principles and History of Revolution”. The content of the course was rearranged by turning it into “History of the Turkish Revolution” and a book was prepared within the framework of the new principles. In accordance with Articles 4 and 5 of the Higher Education Institution Law No. 2547 dated November 6, 1981, a compulsory course under the name “Ataturk’s Principles and History of Revolution” was accepted during education and training in Higher Education Institutions. Thus, it was aimed to raise generations “committed to Ataturk’s nationalism in line with Ataturk’s reforms and principles”.