Railway Policy Of Atatürk Period

Railways that were the fastest and the most reliable transportation vehicle ofthe 19th century were a means of exploiting for developed countries and a means ofexploitation for underdeveloped countries. In paralel with this structuring, therailways within the borders of Ottoman Empire, who could be identified as a semicolonyin the 19th century, were also built by imperialist countries. Railways weredesigned to procure the raw materials, which were abound in the terrtory of Ottoman Empire, with very low prices then take it to Europe and after convertingthem into manufactured products to sell it back to Ottoman Empire in return forvery high prices. Moreover while the railways were being built, special attentionwas paid for not forming a contact point between İstanbul, the capital city of theempire, and other regions, so no railways were built in central and esatern parts ofthe country. Turkish Republic, who appeared as an independent state after the warof independence, pursued a national and independent railway policy that was not inaccordance with the interest of the imperialist countries as was in Ottoman period;but in line with the benefit of the country and in a way that could meet the actualneeds. In a short span of time as fifteen years in Atatürk period, the territory ofTurkish Republic was railed from north to south and from west to east.