How did Turkish nationalism emerge during the Turkish War of Independence?

Turkish nationalism emerged as a significant force during the Turkish War of Independence, a conflict that lasted from 1919 to 1923 and resulted in the establishment of the modern Turkish Republic. The Ottoman Empire, which had ruled over a diverse range of peoples and territories for centuries, had begun to decline in the late 19th century, and by the end of World War I, it had lost most of its former territories in Europe and the Middle East.

The Turkish War of Independence was led by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, a military commander who became the first president of Turkey. Ataturk and his followers were motivated by a vision of a modern, secular, and democratic Turkish state that was independent from foreign powers. Ataturk believed that the survival of the Turkish nation depended on the establishment of a new national identity that was based on Turkish language, culture, and history.

The emergence of Turkish nationalism during the war was fueled by a number of factors, including the desire for independence from foreign powers, the need to establish a new national identity, and the need to create a sense of unity among the various ethnic and religious groups that lived within the former Ottoman Empire. Ataturk and his followers emphasized the importance of Turkish language and culture, and they worked to promote the adoption of the Latin alphabet, which replaced the Arabic script that had been used for centuries.

The emergence of Turkish nationalism during the Turkish War of Independence was a critical moment in the history of Turkey and the wider Middle East. It marked the beginning of a new era in Turkish history, in which the country would be transformed from an empire into a modern nation-state. Ataturk's vision of a secular, democratic, and modern Turkey continues to shape the country's identity and politics to this day.