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REVIEW PAPER
Seeds of Modern Education: American Influence in Turkey
by
Hrustan Šišić 1 
1 International Burch University, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
ABSTRACT
American private foundations invested huge financial resources in institutions and individuals in the Republic of Turkey in the process of westernization of the country. Due to the war-torn state and poor socio-economic situation, the modernization process in Turkey implied comprehensive help from the Western countries, which Ataturk took as a model. Based on charity and humanitarian work, first American organizations arrived in Turkey at the beginning of 19th century. Popularly known as missionary organizations or simply missionaries, they devoted their work to religious conversion of dominantly Christian minorities in the Ottoman Empire, charity activities and education. From the period of the first arrivals until 1920s, missionary organizations established number of hospitals and schools that proved beneficial to people and students across Turkey. Led by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the new government of Turkey was dedicated to the process of modernization of the country – a project that seriously needed support from the external powers. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the role of American private foundations in the process of development of education, health sector, and overall Turkey’s modernization. These findings suggest that American private organizations such as Rockefeller and Ford foundations had a strong hold in the development of institutions and education and training of individuals from Turkey in various fields. Therefore, this study seeks to present a detailed historical perspective of the activities of American philanthropic foundations and their influence on the development and the process of modernization of Turkey.
Keywords: Modern education, influence, America, Turkey
HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE
Šišić H. (2024). Seeds of Modern Education: American Influence in Turkey, MAP Education and Humanities, 5, 51-60. doi: https://doi.org/10.53880/2744-2373.2024.5.51