Türkiye'de İstihdam Edilen İngiliz Uzmanlar ve Türk Modernleşmesine Katkıları (1924-1975)
Özet
ALTUNBAŞ, Zuhal, British Experts Employed in Türkiye and Their Contribution to
Turkish Modernization (1924-1975), Ph. D. Dissertation, Ankara, 2023.
In this study, the areas of employment of the British who were employed between 1924
and 1975, their employment durations, types of employment, and their contribution to the
modernization process of Türkiye were discussed using the prosopography method. It is
the first postgraduate dissertation on the employment of the British and their contributions
to Turkish modernization in the Republican era. In the first chapter of the study, the
resources reached as a result of web and literature searches in libraries were used. In the
sections related to the British experts, which is the main subject of the study, the decrees
determined in the relevant funds of the Republic Archive of the Presidency of the State
Archives, the web searches about the British experts identified in these decrees, and the
information obtained in the articles and works were used. In the first chapter, examples
of non-Western modernization were examined. Modernization and modernization studies
in Russia, Egypt, Ottoman, Iran, Japan, and Afghanistan, especially those focusing on
modernization due to foreign experts' employment, were emphasized. Turkish-British
relations, starting from the first British diplomat's arrival into the Sublime Porte and the
subsequent developments, were discussed through domestic and foreign sources.
Turkish-British relations during the National Struggle and Turkish-British relations in the
Republican period were examined. In the second chapter, general evaluations of the
employment laws of British experts, their wages and employment areas and their
contributions to Turkish modernization were examined by compiling the information of
British experts employed in the field of education. In the third chapter, the contributions
of British experts employed in the field of industry to Turkish modernization due to their
employment in various industrial establishments and factories, Karabük Iron-Steel
Factory, and Construction and mining areas are examined within the axis of Turkish-
British relations. The data obtained about the British experts employed in the military
field and the contribution of the British to Turkish modernization in the military field
were analyzed in terms of Turkish-British diplomatic relations. Categorized as
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"Employed in Other Fields," British experts' contributions to Turkish modernization in
health, archeology, maritime, central organizations of ministries, telephone-telegraph,
and agriculture were examined. In this study, the decrees identified in the relevant funds
of the Presidency of State Archives Republic Archive and the internet searches made
about the British experts identified in these decrees, and as a result of the literature
reviews, the employment areas, employment periods, employment institutions, wages,
academic titles were recorded in tables. The statistics of comparisons under various
headings in all fields were shown in tables and graphs. Beginning with the second chapter,
the memoirs of the British experts were used to examine their employment in Türkiye
and their contributions. The British experts, assigned to their respective institutions in line
with the modernization goals of the Republic of Türkiye, have contributed to the growth
of local experts in modern Türkiye and the establishment of institutions, particularly
utilizing their expertise. In the education sector, where the most significant amount of
British experts were employed, numerous linguists have been employed, especially
following the replacement of French with English in the state. It is understood that these
experts have significantly shaped Türkiye's foreign language teaching strategy over the
years. In addition, many competent individuals from various fields have contributed to
the Turkish education sector by establishing new departments and progressing in their
areas of expertise. The field of fine arts, which had yet to show much development due
to socio-cultural factors, has particularly benefited from the contribution of British
experts in training locally and internationally qualified specialists, especially in
conservatories and ballet. In the industrial sector, their involvement in the construction
and operation of the Karabük Iron-Steel Factory reveals their complete responsibility in
ensuring the training of competent local experts. The employment of British experts in
the Ottoman Navy transitioned to the Air Force during the Republic era, where they
contributed to military training, discipline, and defense during World War II.
Observations indicate that relationships and employment have evolved alongside the
historical changes in the process.
