Transformational leaders, “empower followers and get individuals to transcend their own self-interests,” “become role models for their followers,” “create a vision,” “initiate and implement new directions,” and, “make clear the emerging values and norms of the organization,” Northouse (2013). In 1934, the Turkish parliament granted Mustafa Kemal the name Atatürk, which means “father of the Turks,” because he was a transformational leader whose drive, capability, and love for his people redefined a nation.
Mustafa Kemal joined the Ottoman Army military high school at the age of 12 in 1893. Eventually he became a military officer, and, working his way up through the ranks, ended up a general during World War I. Being on the losing side of that war resulted in the Ottoman Empire being dismantled and occupied by Greek, Italian, French, and British armies. This occupation wasn’t acceptable to Mustafa Kemal, and he was discharged from the Ottoman Army shortly after the end of World War I because he called for a sovereign Turkish nation and the immediate end of occupation. He set about building, organizing, and leading a military and political campaign to remove all foreign armies from historically Turkish lands. The Turkish War of Independence, led by Kemal, succeeded, and by 1923 allied forces withdrew from Turkey, and recognized what is today known as the Turkish Republic.
If Mustafa Kemal had not been able to convince followers to transcend their own self-interests during the Turkish War of Independence, Turkey today would simply not exist. Instead, even after the exhaustion and disillusionment of World War I, the Turkish people were rallied by Kemal to join a new fight against the occupying armies.
Mustafa Kemal did not simply want Turkish Independence, though. A champion of women’s rights, the rule of law, and secularism, he unabashedly sought a rapid transformation of a country mired in the archaic, dogmatic, traditions of the Ottoman Empire, and created a vision for Turkey that is still prevalent today. As he put it, “Illiteracy, debilitating disease, religious dogma, fatalism, and the inferior position of woman – all of these things must go, and go fast.” (Byrne, 2003) His ideas were so revolutionary that initially, many Turks believed that, with independence, they would be returning to a caliphate nation — a nation ruled by a religious leader. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Instead, Mustafa Kemal set out his vision for Turkey as a secular, constitutional democracy. He became a role model for Turks, working tirelessly toward that end as Turkey’s first president, convincing the Turkish parliament to approve one radically democratic reform after another. Turkey was one of the first nations in the world (and far ahead of other European countries) in granting political rights to women. Secularism – in particular completely separating religion from government — was another hallmark policy achieved by Mustafa Kemal.
By the time Turkey granted Mustafa Kemal the name Atatürk, he had initiated and implemented so many new directions that Turkey was a completely new country. Today, the Father of Turkey is celebrated and remembered throughout that country, possibly to an extent greater than Americans celebrate and remember George Washington. There can be no doubt that Atatürk was an inspirational and transformational leader.
References:
Northouse, P.G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications
Byrne, M.N. (2003). Mustafa Kemal Ataturk – Commander and an effective leader. Accessed from http://www.defence.gov.au/adc/docs/publications2010/PublcnsGeddes2003_300310_MustafaKemal.pdf