A Polemic During the World War Ii: Should Turks Marry Foreigners

Abstract

This study focuses on the issue of Turks marrying foreigners, which has been on the agenda and discussed in public since the 1920's. During World War II, extensive evaluations on this topic were conducted. During this period, the issue was increasingly problematized in the eyes of the Turkish public in the context of nationalism and national security. Another assessment was that marriages with foreigners would harm Turkishness and family happiness due to incompatibility. The majority was suspicious of this type of marriage due to the sensitivity caused by the situation and the rise of nationalist sentiments. On the other hand, a few also viewed this type of marriage positively, judging the situation in the light of freedom and love. A survey conducted by the Yeni Sabah newspaper in 1940 reflected the opinions of the leading figures of the time on this issue. In addition, a small-scale discussion on the marriage of Turks to foreigners took place at the Turkish Grand National Assembly in 1942. This article deals with the idea of nationalism that arose in connection with the aforementioned survey, the debates in parliament, and the idea of Turks marrying foreigners. The national issue of Turkish citizenship and marriage with foreigners became the main topic of argumentation in the early years of the republic when the raising nationalist ideology gained more and more strength especially it became more visible during the war years. In this study, by addressing the issue of marriage with foreigners, which is discussed in the advertisements of institutions and organizations, in the surveys of periodicals as well as in various channels such as the parliament an attempt has been made to contribute to the literature.