Information and education were the most important things during the foundation of Republic of Turkey.
The reason of this was that our ancestors knew it was impossible to manage success without culture in any field. Considering it is impossible to intgrate into world economy without information founders of Republic, especially Veteran Mustafa Kemal, organized Izmir Economic Congress. They started educational mobilization around the country. They tried to explain public what production, industry and mechanization is. They comprehended the importance of finance and established banks. They made the acquisition and use of information and appreciating those with information base of Republic. As the children of a generation saying that “Go and bring the information even if it is in China”, they suppoırted this aim by stating “Knowledge is the only real guiding light in life” and kept going on. The reason why the first 15 years of the Republic after foundation was so successful is the approach under light of science rather than politics. However; the fact that world war taking place in 1940s, the loss of the joy which existed in the first years of Turkish Republic, fears and negative politics and conflicts captured the country rather than knowledge in terms of management and targets, founder society sttrugling to reach the “contemporary civilization” targets left its aim and become introvert caused an inertia, recession and slow down in targets. A more simple policy started to takeover the agenda as knowledge and value paid for it decreased. Separations and polarizations started as well. It was thought that multi-party democracy worked only for grabbing the power. Moreover, coups lasting until 80s, regressive democracy and continuous deficit in education, information and science started to turn Turkey into a third world country.
Integration in world is only possible with rationalist courage, not fears
Turkey has started integrating into world, peace, and an economic integration with Turgut Ozal. A new peaceful move between social life and policy has started. European Economic Community and Common Market integration efforts have continued consistently by EU membership process. There had been great acquisitions during this process. First of all, although many societies criticize, “Customs Union Agreement” decreased the nontariff obstacles before commerce through harmonizing technical standards and regulations, encouraged vertical integration of Turkish companies into European production lines by abolishing the need for expensive origin rules. Simple policies only mention about the populist sides of those agreements and emphasize on losses. However, such integrations neglect customs modernization project in Turkey, incredible developments in transportation, logistics and communication infrastructure and they play great role in ranging Turkey amongst first 30 countries of the world in terms of logistics. There is no one-sided acquisition in the world. There might be some negative results of every single innovation, agreement and integration, but what is important is to keep pros more than cons. This is just an example. Economical integration starts with rationalist courage, not fears.
Great states are the ones keeping consistency in their policies
In this sence, a recently published report named “Experiences of Turkey” by World Bank has significant information contents. You might observe both positive and negative sides when assessed scientific, not politic. It is important to be proud of our great acquisitions and we have that right to do, but it is also necessary according to rationalism to be aware of our deficiencies as well. I would like to consider this report as business world and share some topic titles. Report directly states that Turkey is in a beter condition compared with the past in terms of foreign direct investment. This is also included in our agenda as business world. And our government as well. Even the renewed name of our Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology shows how seriously is the subject taken. Business world, universities and cooperation in public is hopeful. Financial sector used to be the weak side of the country. But today, financial sector in Turkey is a source of power and confidence for local and foreign enterprises. It is significant to be mentioned in World Bank’s report. Radical macro and financial configurations implemented after 1999-2001 financial crisis are turning points of our financial sector. More importantly, being sticked to that discipline and consistency of the resolutions after govenment change brought the success. This is the point we mentioned in the beginning. Success is achieved when knowledge is the source of act, not politics, facts and informations are valued and consistency in state is realized. Permanent independence in Central Bank, Capital Market Board and Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) and paying more and more attention to the subject is going to double the success. We are considering this matter as a crucial subject for our economy. Transparency, rule of law, trust in ergs of democracy is going to ennoble us in the world.
Education is not only wealth, but a matter of social presence
Agricultural employment of Turkey has decreased 25% and industrial employment increased 5 points within past 20 years. There is a supernatural dynamism of private sector here. Setting up a business became easier, investors were supplied more protection and cross border commerce became easier especially in last 10 years. Our place in “World Bank Employment Ease Index” might not be so clear, but structural transformations and opportunities in reality, new enterpreneur class emerged with “Anadolu Kaplanları” and economy zones faded the negativities on paper away. Turkey does not want to be sticked to Marmara in terms of production and industry. The prepared policies also support it clearly. We all know that we can’t provide a nationwide welfare unless creating new economy zones. Cities are the engines of country economies. According to World Bank report, Turkey is one of the countries with fastest urbanisation rate on earth. Our urban population has increased 35 million people within last 30 years. That means migration, unemployment of people and urban problems. And probably one of the main problems of the country, which is to educate and adopt the new people into the new life. This is not just about modern cities, but the modern human who is educated, qualified and job holder. In this context, Turkey’s working age population has an education background of less than 7 years. This amount is 11 years in developed countries. Can a population with secondary school education compete with those with high school or university education? This situation reflects our productions, enterpreneurship and competitiveness directly. At that point we expect more scientific and long term policies in education. This matter is out of politics. Education is the most important matter in a country with population of under 30 age. It is not only wealth, but also a matter of socail presence. Turkey can only turn its demographical structure into an advantage through education.
There are many more subjects stated in “Experiences of Turkey” report, which is the evaluation of Turkey before World Bank. I will mention about those subject in my latter articles. There might be also some obscure points as well as many correct evaluations. Here we can say that rationalist people are the ones consulting for a third point of view. We, as a country, are proud of our successes and all the acquisitions of Republic dating back to almost 100 years since we are a part of it. However; we think that expressing our deficiencies will make us more powerful and contribute us to achieve our goals. We need to see the acquisitions gained through acting rational instead of emotional; depending on knowledge and science instead of politics.