In the summer of 2024, I went to Ankara, Turkey, and Berlin, Germany. My time in both Ankara and Berlin centered around conducting research for my Dual Departmental Honors Thesis in History and Economics. I conducted research in the Turkish Diplomatic Archive (Dışişleri Bakanlığı Arşivi), the Turkish State Archives (Devlet Arşivleri Başkanlığı), and the German Political Archive of the Federal Foreign Office (Politisches Archiv des Auswärtigen Amts). Archival material from the state archives within these two countries was crucial for my thesis, which centers on the legacy of the Eastern Question, Turkish neutrality in WW2, and Turkish foreign and diplomatic policies with the Great Powers during the build-up to and during WW2.
During my time, my favorite history-related thing I saw was the state preservation of memories and promotion of national and great myths from the period and how they have and continue to influence our understanding of the period, individuals, and states. Moreover, engaging with the culture and the people not only significantly influenced my experience but also demonstrated history coming to life as I was able to witness historical stories, myths, and narratives being intertwined with society and culture.
One of the most interesting historical facts I learned is the lasting tradition found among recent graduates of any education level in Turkey. Many students upon graduating will come to Anıtkabir in their graduation regalia to honor the instrumental role Atatürk played in reforming the education system, which saw the introduction of a Latin alphabet, the opening of higher education curriculums to women, the opening of Turkey's education system to foreign experts, and the overall changing view on education to become a
cornerstone for any state and its people.