It's crucial to note that Turkish progressivism didn't spring from Ataturk alone, but rather, it was a byproduct of the transformative reforms set in motion by the Ottoman Sultans in the early 19th century. These reforms, a direct response to Western interference and conflicts, laid the foundation for Turkish progressivism. It's not just about establishing a livable state, but also about forging a nation capable of standing up to and prevailing over the West.
From a historical perspective, progressive Turks' efforts to distance themselves from the confrontational root have often led to National humiliation and outright rejection by the West. This can be attributed to the Turks being the historic 'other' that Europeans used to define their own identity, a dynamic that persisted for nearly a millennium.
Overall, Turks, due to their history of being the non-white, non-Christian group that was able to conquer and rule over Christian Europeans, have a drastically different relationship with the West than other Nations. These differences have had cultural ramifications that have echoed through the generations until the current one.
