History of the Turkish Republic

The Division of History of the Turkish Republic Studies operates as a sub-department of the History Department within the Faculty of Letters at Karadeniz Technical University. Its primary objective is to train   students interested in conducting research in the field of the History of the Turkish Republic. The department provides essential courses and activities.

The History of the Turkish Republic studies focus on  topics related to modern Turkish history. The works of prominent historians such as Afet İnan, Enver Ziya Karal, Hikmet Bayur, Selahattin Tansel, Şerafettin Turan, and Sina Akşin  are pioneering in this context. Memoirs written by numerous military figures, statesmen, journalists, literary figures, and philosophers from the recent past, despite having a subjective perspective, are considered valuable written sources for the  History of the Turkish Republic studies.

The division's research priorities encompass an in-depth examination of topics related to the Anatolian region from the proclamation of the Edict of Reorganization (The Edict of Gulhane) on November 3, 1839, to the early 2000s. This involves a comprehensive exploration of works and events from that period and the transmission of knowledge gained from rich cultural legacies to postgraduate students. Within this framework, the National Struggle Period, the establishment process of the Republic of Türkiye, political, social, and cultural reforms during this period, as well as the evaluation of political, social, and economic aspects of the Atatürk and İnönü eras, the transition to a multiparty political system, and Turkish foreign policy are studies, and corresponding courses are offered. Since its establishment, the department has been a pioneer in facilitating numerous master's and doctoral theses on issues related to the history of the Republic of Türkiye.

The Division of History of the Turkish Republic engages in interdisciplinary studies with fields such as International Relations, Public Administration, Turkish Language and Literature, Sociology, and Journalism. Through these collaborations, the aim is to interpret events in the history of the Republic of Türkiye more accurately through cross-readings and a comparative historical approach.

Currently, the Division of History of the Turkish Republic is staffed by 3 full Professors, 1 Assistant Professor, 1 Lecturer, and 1 Research Assistant, totaling 6 faculty members actively contributing to its activities.