Ottoman Republic (A Victory in the East)

Ottoman Republic
Osmanlı Cumhuriyeti
Timeline: A Victory in the East
OTL equivalent: Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon

Flag Coat of Arms Location of Turkey Motto Yaşasın Anavatan ("Long live the Fatherland!")
Capital	Ankara
Largest city	Istanbul
Language	Turkish, Arab
Government	Unitary parliamentary republic
President	Suleyman Soylu
Currency	Lira
Driving Side	left
Calling Code	+16
Internet TLD	.ott

Turkey (Turkish: Türkiye [ˈtyɾcije]), officially the Ottoman Republic (Turkish: Osmanli Cumhuriyeti), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia, with a smaller portion on the Balkan peninsula in Southeastern Europe. East Thrace, the part of Turkey in Europe, is separated from Anatolia by the Sea of Marmara, the Bosporus and the Dardanelles (collectively called the Turkish Straits). Istanbul, which straddles Europe and Asia, is the largest city in the country while Ankara is the capital. Turkey is bordered on its northwest by Balkan Monarchy; north by the Black Sea; northeast by Russia  and Iran; and the south-east border with Arabia.

The country became a republic after the 1920 Turkish coup which was led by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk against the Ottoman Monarchy, which was led by Suleyman Pasha. After the war, Atatürk enacted numerous reforms, many of which incorporated various aspects of Western thought, philosophy and customs into the new form of Turkish government.

Currently the country is a unitary parliamentary republic, which was led by a President, which currently holds by Suleyman Soylu, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party. He currently introduces reforms in order to restore what he called as "Ottoman Greatness". The Cabinet of Ministers led by the leader of opposition, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. This would make some dispute on foreign policy between the Liberals and the Social Democrats. However, they still have some cooperation in order to not to make a civil war.

History

Foundation of the Republic

After lost the Great War, the Ottoman Empire was absolutely sure to be decline since Greece gained independence. During a meeting, Mustafa Kemal Pasha (by this time he wasn't being called Ataturk yet), decided to actually transforming the crumbling Empire into a constitutional monarchy, or if the Emperor don't accept, they will stage a 2nd coup against him, by giving a hint that the Ottoman Republic's constitution was completed and waiting him to sign.

Emperor Suleyman Pasha didn't agree with this due to his current autocratic economy control over the Empire, which credited by young reformists and economists, and even generals like Enver Pasha for it's failure and thrust for power. Enver Pasha, who became Prime Minister, although not friendly to the new Chief of General Staff, called Mustafa Kemal to stage a coup, immediately. He ordered infantry and artillery troops to surrounded the palace, while told the Emperor that he went to the federal parliament. General Ismet Pasha (Inonu), declared that the Emperor would get an asylum to Britain. He accepted after some pressure.

On the next day, Mustafa Kemal Pasha declared that the Ottoman state was not an monarchy anymore, he declared it is, from now on, a republic state. Enver Pasha spoke next, introduced four initiatives for development of the republic:

• A independence secular state in economy, political situations.
• Showing the separatists that Ottoman Republic would never forget it's mistakes in the past and to develop a greater future for people and the world.
• A stable society with a limited autonomy to the minorities.
• Equal rights for women and men, both in economically and politically.

This would seemed to be a little bit too liberal, compared to the conservative European society at that time. The Russian Empire, declared support for the new initiatives and began to reform at the same time, under the Ulyanov's cabinet. They also gave economic aid and military aid in case the radical monarchists made a civil war, which was continued until 1930s, when Ottoman thanks to the Russians for the aid and fully began to be developed under a democratic cabinet.

At the same time, the capital was moved to Ankara, which was a province with 80,000 people at that time. They also invited exiled German architects like Clemens Holzmeister to designed/renovate the city into a modern and productive city. The new capital proved to be useful for investment for new Ottoman. Industries began to fast but gradually developed, which made the country richest in the Middle East.

Healthcare also improved through Ministry of Health, under suggestions of Russian advisors. Instead of "magical, spirituous" type of curing, it developed a free healthcare and a good insurance of skillful doctors, equipments, medical aids,...

The economy was recovered from the war, and even continue to grew rapidly compare to other participants in the war like Greece, Yugoslavia, Romania, Hungary and even France. With rapid industry grows like this, it would be not so surprise when Ottoman Republic revitalized as the center of Southern Europe and the Middle East thanks to the fast growing heavy industry. Oil industry began to gain some importance, but as not important as Arabia Kingdom.

New Era (1940-1950)

Enver Pasha died in 1942, marked the end of the early restoration of the Republic. His successor, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (by this time Ataturk name was bestowed to Enver Pasha, and his chief of staff, Mustafa Kemal Pasha), introduced a anti-radical Islamism reforms. This would supported by the majority of Islam followers, including a huge number of Kurdish people, but would be opposed by clerks who wanted to restore Islamism autocracy.

The economy still developed under Ataturk. Major reforms like introducing new currency (the old Republic still used old lira until 1942). Introducing new currency would make the economy much better in introducing international business center in Istanbul or Izmir. Istanbul was the first international business center in Turkey and still one of the largest international business center in the world.

His social policy was more radical than Enver Pasha did. Harsh secularism was implemented, the banned of wearing religious costumes in public areas was one of the most notable one. This made the end of the Ottoman Empire's legacy in the new Republic. They also bought new weapons from the Great Britain, one of its former adversaries, as its neutral foreign policy gave oppoturnity to buy new weapons from any superpowers in the world.

The new Ottoman Army was one of the strongest, most professional army in the Asia, with all men (including the reserves) prepared for the war. This was made due to the temporary rivalries with Arabia, one of its aggressive neighbor. The radical Islamism had been supported by clerks who wants to reestablished the autocracy again, It would ignite the Ottoman-Arabia Border War in 1944 which costed about 8,249 casualties at each side. However, it proved Ottoman Republic to be a great regional power. Of course, it led to the 1960 Arabia coup in which deposed the Sultan/King of Arabia, and formed a unitary republic with the technocrats. The new government, although pro-British, still decided to open relations with their former rival, Ottoman Republic, as a friend.

The new Ataturk era was proved to be one of the most glorious era in the Ottoman history, only after the 1547 expansion. It also improved relationship with Iran/Persia, one of its former adversaries. It signed an agreement which respected their international borders, military cooperation and territories sharing, especially Gulf of Persia. The new constitutional monarchy of Iran proved to be popular with the people thanks to the advice of Turkish experts. At the same time, with the introduce of Jet engines, Ottoman bought the technology from the British and developed its own engine in Aleppo. The Russians did the same. Modernization reforms is one of the legacy of Mustafa Kemal when he died in 1949.

The Ataturks became the greatest Ottomans via a poll in 2000, the era ended with the first democratic election with Inonu's victory at 1950.

Inonu era (1950-64)

Inonu, a 65 year-old person at that time, was elected President. He decided to open trade to the West, a part from less relying from Russia. Even though it gonna make a diplomatic incident (Aleppo Incident) after the it bought weapons from UK, Russia's opponent at that time. This began because the Russian government had spied on Turkey/Ottoman before, and found that British troops are also station in Turkey, in which indicate that one of the members of the EEC wanted to reconcile with the British. However, it's relation still good after that. The relations only soured when it joined the Moscow Pact as a forming member.

The economy began to be fully opened, especially the price change, when the Ottoman began to introduce the rate of 1 USD = 4.5 Ottoman new lira. This led increase trade of both sides since it was favoured for them. Also, this led to expansion of Turkish/Ottoman international business center into Baghdad, Aleppo, ... Economic growth still at about 6.5 to 7%. The American's investment would fasten the 2nd reemergence of the Ottoman Republic as a superpower, with the economy behind China, France, Britain, Russia and the United States. This would enraged China, a former opponent to the Ottoman. However, the Chinese relations between Ottoman would be improved after both joined the Moscow Pact.

However, the relations with Arabia still isn't good enough for negotiations. They only signed for a armistice. The relations improved when the Republicans made a 1960 Arabia coup against the Sultan, based on the Turkish model, which resulted a state visit from Minister of Foreign Affairs. This would made Middle East more peaceful and neutral, together with the Balkans. The country stop became neutral when it signed the formation of Moscow Pact in 1964. This would improved relations with Russia, which it was strained from 1918 until about 1950, when Foreign Minister Molotov signed the "Friendship Treaty" between Russia and the Ottoman Republic.

Under a constitutional referendum, which was lived on TV, 55% of the voters accepted to dissolve the one-party regime but remain harsh secularism. Followed by Russia, Ottoman became the 2nd cultural center of Europe, after Germany. Modernization effect of society proved to be successful for both the leaders and the opposition. The opposition became less religious. However, some elements that wanted Islamism returned had to retreated to mountains or else they would be persecuted. Consider for a new change, Inonu proclaimed that the election would began in 1st March 1960.

Inonu won the first democratic presidential election in 1960, got about 45% of the vote, the CHP still in power. However, he had to form a coalition with New Turkey Party. This would led to nowhere since the decision was mostly controlled by CHP. And also in CHP, there was also a political struggle between Inonu and the younger version, who wanted a collective leader. Inonu accepted to resign as CHP party leader, but remained as Prime Minister until 1965, as the CHP lost the election.

New Ottoman (1965-2000)

With the CHP lost the parliamentary election in 1965, a new party began to exercise their power. It's name was the Liberal Party. The Liberal Party was centrist, secularist party in which based on the National Party (which is a party formed by unification of Democratic and Reform party) while still follow a moderate conservative society. The new prime minister was Suat Hayri Urguglu. He was an liberal compare to other former prime ministers like Inonu or Enver Pasha.

He began to developed eastern regions into a industrialized region. A modern, more effective method of agriculture was formed. Strict discipline was formed on the other hand. During his time, the agriculture in each year grew 18% although the agricultural land was lessen by 5%. On the southern part, he organized the reconstruction of cities that was damaged by the war 15 years ago such as Baghdad, Aleppo, Damascus. In fact, he accelerated the rate of reconstruction into new, modern cities. He also saw the implementation of color TV in main cities. Bread prices were decreased. As such, the reforms were success. He also began to encourage the agronomists as he wanted the food production of Ottoman increase. The result is the crops genetics change. However, it is a failure during the test in simulated farms because it strictly followed Lysenko's idea. Instead they began to make lands in the central more fertilize and at the same time, modernization of agriculture. Productivity increased steadily. However, the modernization was a failure, with a machinery crisis began. At that time, they had to import from USA or Britain.

About industry, as said before, there was a machinery crisis. The machinery crisis was started because of the quality of the machine. It partially damaged the Ottoman's industry and agriculture in general. They had to institute new reforms, such as the formation of State Quality Department, which allowed the state to intervene the production of anything if it has a problem. Another major act was to allow Western specialist in industry to help Ottoman. The government also introduced dirigisme to recover the economy like the French under Prime Minister de Gaulle did in 1940s after the Depression.

Turkish T-64 tanks during the 5th anniversary of the coup

Political corruption was increased. For example, the arrests and prosecutions for political corruption were increased by 1,760 cases, higher than 1,200 cases of 1962. However, even the judges could be bribed easily. This would mean light imprisonment. By what they mean imprisonment, it was a house arrest with full of luxurious things and so on. This would made the peak of discontent by the people, and they began to do mass protests. The protest was the biggest since the one during the end of the Great War against the proposed Treaty of Sèvres, in which partitioned the former Ottoman Empire into multiple occupation zones. The protest were concentrated on large cities like Istanbul, Ankara, Baghdad, Aleppo against the corrupted officials. The result is the Supreme Court of Turkey formed a special commission on investigating the leadership, in which led to many arrests, that also include the deputy prime minister. This would led to a military coup in 1966, when the armed forces, led by Cevdet Sunay, deposed the government, and put a technocratic military-civilian government in charge of the country.

The new government introduced anti-corruption reforms, in which confiscated the properties of major high-ranking politicians via corruption. This was conducted by the secret police forces, the 3rd Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior, in charge of telephone tapping and internal spying of the country. The anti-corruption reforms proved to be partially effective, with the state budget increased by 10%, and the unemployment rate decreased by 1-2% from 5.1%, due to the state spending on major agricultural and infrastructure program.

Politics

The Ottoman Republic is a democratic, parliamentary republic. The President of Ottoman Republic is head of state and Prime Minister of Ottoman Republic is head of government.

Ottoman Republic's political system is based on a separation of powers. Executive power is exercised by the Council of Ministers, which is appointed and headed by the President. Legislative power is vested in the Grand National Assembly. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Its current constitution was adopted on 7 November 1982 after a constitutional referendum.

Major constitutional reforms were passed by G.N.A in 2017, which allowed Chairman of the National Assembly to be Vice President at the same time, and ranked 1st in succession for Presidency in case a President died, impeached, ... It also allowed Prime Minister to hold the position of Chairman of the National Assembly if a President died.

Human Rights Watch ranked Ottoman Republic as "democratic regime"

Administrative and Executive

The function of head of state was responsible by President, head of government was responsible by Prime Minister. They could be elected every 5 years through the principle of universal suffrage according to the 1977 Constitution. They couldn't necessarily were a member of parliament, but must be older than 35 years old for candidacy and hold a bachelor's degree. The current holder of Presidency is Suleyman Soylu and current holder for Prime Ministership is Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.