Brief History

The Presidency of Atatürk Research Center, a legal entity, was established by Law No. 2876 in accordance with Article 134 of the Constitution on August 17, 1983 under the umbrella of Atatürk Supreme Council for Culture, Language and History in order to conduct scientific research and studies on Atatürk and the History of the Republic of Türkiye. The duties of the Presidency of Atatürk Research Center were reorganized by Decree Law No. 664, which entered into force on November 2, 2011. With this latest amendment, our Institution is entitled “to examine and prepare for publication the sources related to Ataturk’s personality, thoughts, principles and reforms and the history of the Republic of Türkiye as well as the fundamental scientific and cultural works produced during the Republican period or to have them prepared for publication; to collect books, brochures, magazines and similar materials written in Turkish and foreign languages about Atatürk, the War of Independence and the history of the Republic of Türkiye, and to organize them with scientific methods; to organize scientific meetings, excursions, exhibitions on issues related to its mission and to support those who conduct examinations and research along with those who carry out postgraduate studies and to support real and legal persons who have produced outstanding works on Atatürk’s thoughts, principles and revolutions, and the causes and developments of the events that paved the way for the foundation of the Turkish Republic in the Republican Period, both in Türkiye and abroad.   

With the amendment made in Article 134 with the Constitutional Amendment Referendum of 16 April 2017, the phrase “Affiliated to the Prime Ministry” was changed to “Affiliated to the Minister to be appointed by the President”. With the “Presidential Circular No. 2018/1 on Institutions and Organizations Affiliated, Related and Associated to Ministries” published in the Official Gazette on 15 July 2018, Atatürk Supreme Council for Culture, Language and History was affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The field of study of Atatürk Research Center consists of information fields that include and examine all the values of the period, especially history (the War of Independence period and the history of the Republic Era in particular).

The field of study of the Presidency of the Atatürk Research Center comprises primarily of history (the history of the period of the Turkish War of Independence and the Republican Era in particular) and the fields of knowledge that include and examine all the values of the related period. Within this context, all the values of the society and the Republican Era such as economics, law, political science, public administration, culture, religion, international relations, sociology and art are in the scope of the Institution’s field of study.

Since its establishment, the Presidency of Atatürk Research Center has organized many national and international congresses, symposiums, panels, workshops, conferences, etc. and published the papers presented at these events. While preparing the calendar of scientific events, it takes care to ensure that the events that are important in terms of our history are commemorated on their own anniversaries. In addition, it organizes the International Atatürk Congress every four years in order to examine with a scientific approach the effects of the events in the establishment and development process of the Turkish Republic on today and their possible roles in shaping the future and to consequently present to the Turkish and world public opinion the information, documents, interpretations and syntheses obtained.

The Presidency of Atatürk Research Center has published many works of research and analysis since it was established. Papers presented at scientific meetings are published as books, and published works as the public series and on Kemalism are also presented to the readers and the world of science. Additionally, the Journal of Atatürk Research Center has been published since 1984 to include original and scientific articles. The journal was evaluated by TÜBİTAK ULAKBİM Social Sciences and Humanities Database Committee at the committee meeting dated 13.10.2017 and numbered 72 and found suitable to be included in the database as of 2016.

The Presidency of Atatürk Research Center serves researchers and readers with its specialized library consisting of books and periodicals, e-store, book sales office, and continues its publication sales and promotion activities at book fairs and universities.

The Institution also provides scholarships to successful students studying at postgraduate level at our universities on the subjects related to the Republic Era.