This article aims to outline the general characteristics of modern Turkish politics. While the radical changes introduced in the newly established secular Republic of Türkiye after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire represent a vast and complex topic, this brief overview will highlight some of the main political and ideological trends shaping the post-Ottoman Turkish political environment.
Following the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire, nationalist movements gained significant influence across the former imperial territories. These movements became dominant political actors in both the Middle East and Türkiye. Alongside them, various Islamic movements—such as the Muslim Brotherhood and Hizb ut-Tahrir—emerged across the region as alternative ideological forces. However, the trajectory in Türkiye differed considerably from that of other post-Ottoman states.
In Türkiye, Kemalism, the founding ideology of the Republic under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, played a central role in shaping state institutions and political culture. Kemalism emphasized secularism, nationalism, modernization, and Westernization. A key goal was to construct a new, secular Turkish identity by distancing the nation from its Ottoman-Islamic heritage. Comprehensive reforms were implemented to establish a secular republic, including the abolition of the Caliphate, the closure of religious institutions, and the adoption of Western legal and educational models.
However, despite these top-down reforms, Islamic cultural traditions remained deeply rooted among Anatolian communities. Islam has been a central component of Turkish cultural and spiritual identity since the 10th century, and attempts to secularize society encountered resistance. The resulting tension between secular state policies and the religious-cultural orientation of significant segments of the population created an enduring cultural and ideological divide. Although the Kemalist reforms achieved substantial transformation of state structures, they did not fully eliminate the influence of Islamic identity in the public and political spheres.
Another critical element of modern Turkish politics has been the nationalist orientation of Kemalist ideology. While the Republic of Türkiye was founded as a unitary nation-state, its population is ethnically diverse, including groups such as Kurds, Arabs, Greeks, Armenians, and Circassians. The early Republican emphasis on a homogeneous Turkish national identity led to efforts to assimilate minority groups, particularly the Kurdish population. These policies, over time, contributed to ethnic grievances and the rise of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the 1980s. The PKK, accepted as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has been engaged in a violent insurgency that has resulted in significant human and economic costs over several decades.
In recent years, the political landscape of Türkiye has continued to evolve. The rise of new political actors, the increasing role of religion in public discourse, and debates over constitutional reforms reflect a broader attempt to reconcile or transcend some of the ideological paradoxes inherited from the Republican era. Türkiye’s contemporary politics often reflect a dynamic interplay between secular-nationalist traditions and religious-conservative movements, as well as ongoing challenges related to democratization, minority rights, and regional disparities.
In conclusion, modern Turkish politics have been shaped by the foundational tensions between secularism and religion, and between nationalism and ethnic pluralism. These tensions continue to influence political debates and policy directions in the country. Today, with a changing political landscape and new actors emerging, Türkiye appears to be seeking ways to navigate beyond these historical paradoxes, aiming for a political model that integrates diverse social, cultural, and ideological identities more inclusively.
Bayram Aliyev 
