Days before the 100th Anniversary of our Republic, events continue to be organized all over the country in order to increase the spirit of unity and solidarity. A symposium on "Republic in 100th Year" was organized by Istanbul Gelişim University (IGU) Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences (FEAS) in order to reinforce the republican consciousness of young people, to explain our values, and to share the enthusiasm and joy of the 100th year. While the event was moderated by FEAS Dean Prof. Dr. Kenan Aydin; Fenerbahçe University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Ece Baban delivered a speech titled "Ataturk and Communication", Istanbul Gelisim University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Senol Durgun delivered a speech titled "Republic with Its Conceptual and Theoretical Dimensions", Yeditepe University Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz Tansi delivered a speech titled "Turkish-Greek Relations in its 100th Anniversary" and Istanbul Beykent University Assist. Prof. Dr. Kemal Olcar delivered a speech titled "Security Policy of the Republic" respectively.

"Citizenship is the subject of the Republic"

Prof. Dr. Kenan Aydin, the Dean of FEAS, who moderated the event, gave a brief information about the history of the republic. Aydin said, "I would like to state that I am highly joyous to celebrate the 100th anniversary of our Republic and to be here on this occasion. Today, very valuable speakers will make evaluations about the 100th anniversary of the republic. In fact, I believe it is the right approach to make such evaluations and accounting from time to time. We should surely make this accounting, particularly since it is the 100th year. In order to learn from history, we should evaluate what we did right and what we did wrong carefully." IGU FEAS Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Senol Durgun, who gave a speech on "Republic with Conceptual and Theoretical Dimensions" through a comparative perspective, stated that the republic has 3 basic pillars and said, "We have 3 concepts. These are common good, citizenship and virtue. There is a political understanding in the republic that emphasizes public rather than private benefit. It is highly different from liberalism as there is individual good in liberalism. However, in the republic, politics does not go through the individual good, but the public good. There is good for everybody in liberalism and good for one in the republic. The idea of citizenship, which makes up the second pillar, is considerably different under the republic. "Citizenship is the subject of the Republic" Citizen is a concept defined first and foremost based on pre-political ties. It differs from nationalism. A citizen is someone who prioritizes the welfare of the community before their own interests. In this sense, it is the third pillar of virtue."

"Ataturk is a communication genius who has a flawless handle on both diplomacy and his own people"

In the event, where distinguished academicians participated as speakers, very valuable information was shared with the students. Addressing the subject of "Ataturk and Communication" in his speech, Prof. Dr. Ece Baban from Fenerbahce University said, "Considering that everyone knows and accepts that Ataturk is a military genius in history, I would like to emphasize what kind of genius he is in the field of communication. It is not only military power that makes a country accept its independence and sovereignty, but a strategic team is definitely needed next to that military power. It is very difficult to persuade, to manage diplomacy well, to carry it out and to make it accepted at the same time, considering the conditions and communication opportunities at that time. Ataturk is a communication genius who has a flawless handle on both diplomacy and his own people. The reforms made to embrace and carry forward the Republic of Turkey, a newly established one, are probably one of the most crucial examples in history in terms of ensuring the integrity of that unity in order for everyone to embrace and protect their identity. As the republic's successors, we bequeath the heritage we have received to you young people in particular through broadening your horizons with the knowledge we have attained. We, too, have received this entrustment from the previous generation, and in order to protect it, we need to think multi-directionally and have a thought that will protect all its values and history that will protect the multi-directional republic."

“This was a war against imperialism”

Yeditepe University's Lecturer, Assoc. Prof. Deniz Tansi, who took part in the symposium where the 100-year history of the republic was interpreted with different perspectives and topics, said in his speech that he evaluated "Turkish-Greek Relations in its 100th Year", "Today's Greece is the new Greece. Greece is not a continuation of ancient Greece and the Byzantine State. When we look back, Greece is not a topic in bilateral ties. The great powers expressed their problems through Greece. Considering this relationship, there are those who describe our national War of Independence as a Turkish-Greek war with a wrong definition, especially during the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in the First World War and the War of Independence under the leadership of Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and the establishment of our republic. This is British imperialism. If we refer to this as the Turkish-Greek war, we justify The UK. This was a war against imperialism.'' Commenting on the "Security Politics of the Republic", Istanbul Beykent University Faculty Member Dr. Kemal Olcar said, "We perceive leaders, psychological aspects, and the perception of leaders when we consider what elements are crucial to developing a foreign policy at that moment. Leaders are crucial factors in building security architecture and foreign relations in foreign policy. Internal dynamics are also crucial. Naturally, there were no present opportunities at the time; there was little media coverage, no idea of institutions, and no public opinion. There was a project to create a security architecture. It is noticed that the construction processes of today's modern foreign policy were affected by that period. Between them, there is a really nice coalition."