In October 1923, the modern and secular Turkish Republic was established under the leadership of visionary and uncompromising Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire. He wanted to make Türkiye a part of European modernity. He took religion out of politics. He destroyed the Caliphate. Saying farewell to feudalism, he established a new nation-state. But today, after 103 years, we must ask: Is there a ‘republic of Atatürk’ left today? Or has the time of the new Ottoman shell passed?
The territory, which has struggled to reach Europe, has definitely faced the West in 2026. In 1923, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s decision to adopt Türkiye’s secularism and European modernity marked the establishment of a new identity. Today, Ankara do not seek approval from Brussels or Washington. Rather, its historical, geographical and strategic focus has shifted Eastward. Today, Türkiye is discovering its new identity and power base in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa in response to the long-standing failed promises and cold behaviour of its EU neighbours. This is not just a change in political strategy, but a reversal of 100 years of history.
The main fuel for this transformation is the revival of a new Islamic and Turkish nationalism. In the past, religion was completely excluded from state life in Ankara. That same religion is now the primary weapon in Türkiye’s foreign policy arsenal. They are claiming to be an alternative and a sovereign power for the whole Muslim world, ranging from the Turkic countries of Central Asia to the emerging markets of South and Southeast Asia. They are a new leader in the Eastern markets because of their drones, military industry and trade routes of Eurasia that provide it with independence from Western military and economic structures. Western democratic principles are replaced today by a sort of religious self-confidence, which is authoritarian in nature and was adopted from the Ottoman era.
The Islamist politics dominating Ankara have rocked the base of Atatürk’s secular Türkiye in the past 2 decades. Ankara wanted to be a good NATO and EU member. Today, Ankara is an unruly and aspiring world player. Atatürk wished for peace in politics. However, modern Türkiye is extending its military reach outside its borders to the Middle East, the Caucasus and North Africa. It’s more than a political shift. It’s an extreme swing to the opposite side of the ideology.
Türkiye is no longer a NATO subsidiary enemy of the West. It desires to be an independent centre, and the new boss of Eurasia. Under Erdogan’s leadership, Türkiye claims to be the protector of the whole Muslim world. Is this just a foreign policy? Or is it an illusory dream of a new Ottoman Empire? By snapping its fingers at traditional Arab monarchies in the Middle East, Türkiye is the main sponsor of Islamist groups. Wherever one looks, there is a push for Ankara to be more influential, more powerful, more significant from Palestine to Libya.
The West is threatened by this change in Türkiye, and is no longer able to rely on it. They can’t rule Ankara out, since the Bosphorus Strait is controlled by Türkiye. Türkiye is a crossroads between the Middle East and Europe. It has strategic economic and military ties with Russia on one side and safeguarding its NATO membership on the other. This is a very cunning power game played by Türkiye. However, how sustainable is this game? Ankara has taken itself into the dangerous game of international politics to balance this power.
Ankara is establishing a new economic and strategic partnership with the Turkic Central Asian republics. It is dreamt that a huge Turkic sweet land of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan will be created. It is a bid to establish a new balance of power in the heart of Asia vis-à-vis the rising power of China. Türkiye claims to be the only bridge between Asia and Europe. In parallel with the Belt and Road Initiative, Türkiye is developing its own trade routes. It is expanding its reach in the huge region of Asia through expanding sales of Turkish drones and military hardware.
But the strongest tool of this aspiration is the spirit of Islam. In the last 20 years, secularism has existed in Türkiye’s domestic policy only in nominal form. The hallmark of the Islamist spirit is everywhere, in the education system, in the judiciary, in the military, in the news media, and so on. Even educational institutions that Atatürk wanted to be modern and science-based today are filled with religious education. The return of Hagia Sophia to its status as a mosque had a great impact on Atatürk’s secular image of Türkiye. It was not just a change in the use of a building. It was a direct political attack on the secular Türkiye of 1923.
In today’s world, this Islamic revival has become an attraction for the Muslim world and has inspired a model for Türkiye. Egypt or Saudi Arabia were once the centre of Islamic politics. Today, Ankara is occupying this seat. Türkiye is no longer just a secular Western state. It is fond of displaying itself as a symbol of military and social power in the Muslim world. Yes, this is the change that appeals to many young Muslims in the Muslim world. It is, however, pushing Türkiye into a deep polarisation. Fifty percent of society still has faith in Atatürk’s ideals, and the other half follows the other new Islamist road.
The ideological struggle is a war against Türkiye’s weakening from the inside. The economy is in dire straits today. The market is the most highly inflated. The value of the Turkish Lira has decreased. Turkish people are today confused, enraged by the price they paid for their ambitious foreign policy and growing global influence. Has Türkiye forgotten its own people at home, while striving to become a world power leader? History has shown that a dissipating state does not have the means to project power for long. Türkiye’s main enemy today is the economic crisis. This economic downfall cannot be overcome simply by saying the word ‘nation’ and ‘glory’.
Today the structure of the secular Türkiye established by Atatürk in October 1923 is facing great danger. Türkiye should be modern, scientific and Westernised, as Atatürk wanted. But today’s Türkiye is on the backwash. Looking to the future in the shadow of its Ottoman history. This may have temporarily increased the sphere of Türkiye’s power. Its secular and democratic principles have been badly tarnished, however.
In geopolitical terms, Türkiye is a force to be reckoned with these days. But for how long is this strength to endure? Türkiye’s bid to become a global leader by means of Islamist politics is just putting it on a collision course. These are the three dilemmas Ankara is faced with today – loneliness in the Middle East, distrust from NATO, and domestic economic collapse. The slogan of Atatürk was “Peace at home, peace in the world.” Today, Türkiye’s policy has shifted to “Control at home, expansion of influence abroad”.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author
The writer is an Associate Professor, Department of Communication and Journalism, University of Chittagong. Email: [email protected]
