**Daron Acemoğlu and Aziz Sancar’s Divergent Views on Turkey’s Democracy**
Daron Acemoğlu, a Nobel laureate, has made striking comments about Turkey’s democratic history, criticizing Atatürk’s era. Acemoğlu stated that Atatürk centralized power while the Ottoman Empire had a more pluralistic system, sparking renewed discussions on the democratic understanding of Atatürk’s period.
**Aziz Sancar’s Statements**
Meanwhile, Nobel Prize-winning chemist Aziz Sancar offered a contrasting opinion to Acemoğlu’s claims that he would not have received the award had he stayed in Turkey. Sancar asserted, “The Nobel Prize was won thanks to the Republic and Atatürk,” emphasizing that his accomplishment is a medal for the Republic. Sancar highlighted the significant role of Atatürk’s scientific revolutions in his achievements.
**Focus on Republic and Education**
Sancar stressed the importance Atatürk placed on education, noting that it remained a priority even during the hardships of the Battle of Sakarya. He asserted that Atatürk knew progress was impossible without education, which formed the foundation of the Republic.
**Equality and Equal Opportunities**
Highlighting the importance of the opportunities presented by the Republic, Sancar pointed out that social class discrimination was eliminated with the establishment of the Republic. “The Republic is based on the equality of all people,” Sancar said, underlining its role in combating social chaos and discrimination.
**Critical Approach to Acemoğlu**
Sancar critically approached Acemoğlu’s statement, “I wouldn’t have won the Nobel if I had stayed in Turkey,” emphasizing the contributions of his educational and academic journey to winning the Nobel Prize. He also noted that Acemoğlu’s previous awards and his family’s academic and industrial successes serve as an example of pluralism.
**Criticism of Historical Reading**
Lastly, historian Sinan Meydan criticized Acemoğlu’s views, describing them as “shallow and incorrect historical readings.” Meydan’s remarks indicate that Acemoğlu’s perspectives on historical events and Atatürk have sparked debates.