Abstract:

The beginning of modern municipality in Turkey parallels the processes of modernization and westernization. It can be said that the municipal organization, which was tried to be supported by examples in the West, especially with the Tanzimat Period, was a new experience for the History of Turkey. With the Republic, a rapid revolution process took place. It is seen that regulations regarding municipalities are not given priority in the state organization, which is experiencing a rapid transformation with various revolutions. One reason for this situation is that the Turkish municipal organizational structure is based on the French Model, where the central authority is kept strong. Democratization and local services were not the priority of the newly established Republic, especially in its first years. The main priority of the Republic in the first years was to establish reforms, prevent ethnic and religious-based rebellions, and strengthen the central authority. The aim of this study is to examine the emergence of modern municipalism in Turkey, to help understand the foundations on which it is based, and to reveal its effects on the newly established Republic. The study is important to understand the reasons why the reforms that took place with the Republic and laid the foundations of modernism and democratization did not spread to local governments, which are seen as the cornerstone of democracy.

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