Historically Turks had always relied on military power. The culture is rich with martial values to this day. Even each civilian is somewhat soldierly in a sense, in general. Nevertheless, in a more detailed analysis, ...Historically Turks had always relied on military power. The culture is rich with martial values to this day. Even each civilian is somewhat soldierly in a sense, in general. Nevertheless, in a more detailed analysis, in some territories of the country, the prestige enjoyed by the military is more intensive than the average, while in some other territories, respect for military people is much below the average tendency. One might infer that in the former category, it is a question of the regions where the inhabitants are mild, soft-spoken, and compatible. They accordingly admire discipline and display obedient attitudes vis-a-vis governmental authority ever since the Ottoman times, merely as a cultural and traditional trait. Those regions are certainly places where military people today are held in high esteem. In such locations, even the ideal profession for a little boy is indoctrinated as a military career, by the whole family or the surrounding social environment. It should be mentioned that in certain cities and towns, a substantial percentage of the population are represented by immigrants, who got re-patriated along the course of the near history, as the former Ottoman Empire began shrinking in territory due to loss of land, during successive wars. The crushing majority of the Muslim Ottoman subjects in those lost territories preferred leaving their property and escaping into the Anatolian mainland, rather than renouncing their belief and assimilating to the new political regime. Having suffered at the hands of foreign powers, those people have also been especially appreciative of the value of their own soldiers. As for the latter category, dislike of discipline and authority can be mainly attributed to the special social structure and historical circumstances.展开更多
In Turkish, the phrase ＂armed forces＂ is usually interchangeable with the word ＂army＂, the land forces constituting the crushing majority of the whole military population. Turkish military serves as a nation-build...In Turkish, the phrase ＂armed forces＂ is usually interchangeable with the word ＂army＂, the land forces constituting the crushing majority of the whole military population. Turkish military serves as a nation-builder, absorbing and unifying all young males in the compulsory service with no discrimination whatsoever. Most of the other neighboring countries have all-professional-armed-forces, which consolidate a different and distinct class or even a sort of cast within the bosom of that very nation, thereby effectively working toward a disintegration, let alone unification. The incorporating and integrating function of the Turkish military can be understood better when this valuable comparison is taken into consideration. All valuable potentials attain recognition, there being no place for waste, as far as human resources go. The we-feeling there extends to each and every one of the soldiers. The military organization not only prepares the young man-power for a prospective armed conflict, but also imparts many good qualities and virtuous values into their characters like discipline, perseverance, comradeship, and self-esteem. The military, in a sense, serves as a process of initiation or a rite de passage, the end-result of which upon the honorable discharge at the end of the service term, is only a more mature and dignified young person than before.展开更多
文摘Historically Turks had always relied on military power. The culture is rich with martial values to this day. Even each civilian is somewhat soldierly in a sense, in general. Nevertheless, in a more detailed analysis, in some territories of the country, the prestige enjoyed by the military is more intensive than the average, while in some other territories, respect for military people is much below the average tendency. One might infer that in the former category, it is a question of the regions where the inhabitants are mild, soft-spoken, and compatible. They accordingly admire discipline and display obedient attitudes vis-a-vis governmental authority ever since the Ottoman times, merely as a cultural and traditional trait. Those regions are certainly places where military people today are held in high esteem. In such locations, even the ideal profession for a little boy is indoctrinated as a military career, by the whole family or the surrounding social environment. It should be mentioned that in certain cities and towns, a substantial percentage of the population are represented by immigrants, who got re-patriated along the course of the near history, as the former Ottoman Empire began shrinking in territory due to loss of land, during successive wars. The crushing majority of the Muslim Ottoman subjects in those lost territories preferred leaving their property and escaping into the Anatolian mainland, rather than renouncing their belief and assimilating to the new political regime. Having suffered at the hands of foreign powers, those people have also been especially appreciative of the value of their own soldiers. As for the latter category, dislike of discipline and authority can be mainly attributed to the special social structure and historical circumstances.
文摘In Turkish, the phrase ＂armed forces＂ is usually interchangeable with the word ＂army＂, the land forces constituting the crushing majority of the whole military population. Turkish military serves as a nation-builder, absorbing and unifying all young males in the compulsory service with no discrimination whatsoever. Most of the other neighboring countries have all-professional-armed-forces, which consolidate a different and distinct class or even a sort of cast within the bosom of that very nation, thereby effectively working toward a disintegration, let alone unification. The incorporating and integrating function of the Turkish military can be understood better when this valuable comparison is taken into consideration. All valuable potentials attain recognition, there being no place for waste, as far as human resources go. The we-feeling there extends to each and every one of the soldiers. The military organization not only prepares the young man-power for a prospective armed conflict, but also imparts many good qualities and virtuous values into their characters like discipline, perseverance, comradeship, and self-esteem. The military, in a sense, serves as a process of initiation or a rite de passage, the end-result of which upon the honorable discharge at the end of the service term, is only a more mature and dignified young person than before.
