Atatürk Anatürk

by Vamık D. Volkan, Norman Itzkowitz

A searching look at modern Turkey.

Genres: Psychology, History, Biography

576 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Vamık D. Volkan (born in 1932 in Nicosia, Cyprus) is a Turkish Cypriot Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, the Senior Erik Erikson Scholar at the Erikson Institute of Education and Research of the Austen Riggs Center, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and an Emeritus Training and Supervising Analyst at the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute, Washington, D.C. Before coming to the United States in 1957 he received his medical education at the School of Medicine, University of Ankara, Turkey. He Professor Volkan holds Honorary Doctorate degrees from Kuopio University, Finland (2005) and from Ankara University, Turkey (2006). Academic Positions and Appointments in the USA Dr. Volkan was Director of the Gender Identity Clinic, University of Virginia Medical Center (1970-1976); member of the Task Force on Psychiatry and Foreign Affairs, American Psychiatric Association (1971-1977); Acting Chairperson of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Virginia School of Medicine (1977-1978); Consultant, Agency for International Development, Cyprus Mental Health Project, Department of State, Washington, D.C. for the design and construction of a Community Mental Health Center in Lefkoșa (Nicosia), North Cyprus, with a capacity for 100 inpatients (1977-1982); Chairperson of the Advisory Committee, Division of Social Work, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center (1981-1983); Co-chair of the Sexual Deviations Study Group, American Psychoanalytic Association (1982-1992); Chairperson of the Committee on Psychiatry and Foreign Affairs, American Psychiatric Association (1983-1985); Chairperson of the Committee on International Relations, Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (1986-1996); member, Advisory Board, Center for Psychological Studies in the Nuclear Age, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts (1989-1992); member, Advisory Board, Margaret S. Mahler Research Foundation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1992-2005); Chairperson of the Select Advisory Commission of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Critical Incident Response Group that examined the 1993 Waco, Texas incident (1995); Visiting Professor of Law at Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts (2001); member of Working Group on Terror and Terrorism, International Psychoanalytic Association (2002-2004); Guest Instructor, Berkshires Psychoanalytic Institute, Stockbridge, MA (2007). Blue Ridge Hospital Dr. Volkan was the Medical Director of the University of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Hospital (a general hospital) (1978-1994). Center for the Study of Mind and Human Interaction (CSMHI) Dr. Volkan was Founder and Director of the Center for the Study of Mind and Human Interaction (CSMHI) (1987-2002) at the School of Medicine, University of Virginia. CSMHI applied a growing theoretical and field-proven base of knowledge to issues such as ethnic tension, racism, national identity, terrorism, societal trauma, transgenerational transmissions, leader-follower relationships, and other aspects of national and international conflict. Because no single discipline can fully illuminate such deep-seated and complex issues, CSMHI's faculty and board included experts in psychoanalysis, psychiatry, psychology, diplomacy, history, political science, and environmental policy. Their combined perspectives and experience provided in-depth analyses of political, historical, and social issues and the psychological processes that invariably exist beneath their surface.[1]

International Negotiation Network (INN) Professor Volkan was a member of the International Negotiation Network (INN) under the directorship of the former President Jimmy Carter (1989-1998). In 1987, President Carter founded INN as a flexible, informed network of former heads of state, Nobel Peace laureates, eminent persons and conflict resolution practitioners dedicated to resolving international conflicts through peaceful means. In 1992, Dr. Volkan traveled with President Carter and othe

Reviews

[Orhan Aksu · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Gazi'nin diğer dostlarının yanı sıra Nuri de bazen geceyi Çankaya'daki köşkte geçirir, sabahleyin ev sahibine tavşan avında eşlik ederdi. Bu etkinlikler nedeniyle binici takımı Çankaya'da duruyordu. İki adam sık sık bugün Anıtkabir'in bulunduğu tepede at sürerek avlanırlardı. Bu at gezileri sırasında yanlarında başka kimse olmaz, çoğunlukla Nuri'nin evinde tahin pekmezden oluşan kahvaltıyla gezi sona ererdi. Mustafa Kemal memnun bir ruh haliyle " "Selanik'teki çocukluğumdan beri tahin pekmezi sevmişimdir" der, Nuri'nin çocuklarıyla sevecen bir tavırla konuşurdu."

Biz de seni çok sevdik paşam çok...

[S. Berk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volkan and Itzkowitz's work is an incredible testimony to what a joint work of scholars from different disciplinary viewpoints could achieve. A very well-researched and beautifully-written text, analyzing the long-term effects of some very dramatic and traumatic events in Kemal's past and how they might have shaped his character and psychological traits. It is a highly unbiased and fair assessment of Kemal as a fallible human being who achieved extraordinary things. While doing so, it provides also an account of a broader history of the late Ottoman Empire and early republican Turkey, giving us glimpses of daily life and everyday tragedies of the common people, which is highly original and inspiring. All in all, it is a book that every student of modern Turkish history should read. If I were a lecturer, at least a few chapters of this book would be in my syllabus. It is, however, VERY hard to find. The Turkish translation (which is not as hard to find) seems loyal to the original, which is surprising. I wish we could see such great biographies of other historical figures.

[Ali Gül · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tek kelimeyle mükemmel.

Kitabın Atatürk ile ilgili seçtiği anektodlar ve biyografiyi ortaya koyuş şekli mükemmel. Psikanaliz denen olguyu dinlediğim kadarıyla bilimsel bulmadığım için, bu bölümlerde yapılan analizlerin doğruluğunu da bilemiyorum. Fakat Vamık Volkan'ın Atatürk'ün özel hayatı ile ilgili yaptığı tahliller son derece hoşuma gitti. Paşa hazretlerine meraklıysanız kesinlikle okumanızı öneriyorum.

[Cantigone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atatürk’ün özellikle çocukluğunda yaşadıklarının onu nasıl etkilediği, karakterine nasıl yön verdiğine dair psikolojik analizler dikkat çekici. Tabii hala Atatürk’le ilgili pek çok şeyi bilmiyoruz ve bu kitap da ölümünden 37 yıl sonra yazılmasına karşın pek çok konuda varsayımlar üzerinden ilerlemek zorunda kalıyor. Yine de Atatürk’ün karakterini, psikolojik yapısını merak edenler için okuması keyif veren bir kitap. Bu konuyu merak edenlere benim de bir önerim olacak. Osman Selim Kocahanoğlu’nun hazırladığı Ali Fuat Cebesoy’un ‘Bilinmeyen Hatıralar’ kitabının son bölümünde Cebesoy’un Amerikalı bir gazeteciyle yaptığı uzun bir röportaj var. Bu röportajda Paşanın Atatürk’le ilgili değerlendirmeleri benim okuduklarım içinde Atatürk’ün nasıl bir insan olduğu hakkında beni en çok etkileyen, aklımdaki pek çok soruyu cevaplandıran bir değerlendirme oldu, konuya ilgisi olanlara öneririm.

[Cem Ertül · Rating 4 out of 5]

A captivating psychoanalysis of Atatürk that acts as a further testimony to his extraordinary character which made it possible for him to achieve extraordinary things. Although the impreciseness of psychoanalysis as a scientific pursue shows itself at some places in the book, overall the authors have managed to write one of the most enjoyable and interesting biographies of Atatürk. A must-read if you are interested in the subject, however if you are completely new to it I would suggest starting with the biography by Lord Kinross as it is the most accessible one, and then read this one.

[Ustun · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique book, which sheds light on the psychoanalysis of Ataturk's life. Readers unfamiliar with his biography, widely studied in turkish and english writings, might have difficulties to follow the course of events described in the book. I recommend readers to start with an established Ataturk's biography. I am moved to see the deep psychoanalysis of famous events of Mustafa Kemal's life and how they are merged with his country and people's.

[Taner Demir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atatürk'ün biyografisine psikoanalitik bir bakış, bazı tespitler oldukça ilginç

[Edacheeky · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5
This was really interesting to read. It's been my first introduction to psychobiography and it really intrigued me. I've realised that psychobiography/history has both its pros and cons - particularly in the accuracy of their analysis and conclusions, since Ataturk died a long time ago and psychoanalysis has its flaws -, but in the end it has opened up a whole new view point of Ataturk, and so has benefited the historiography of Ataturk as a whole. The psychoanalysis and the conclusions drawn from it made this book very interesting, engaging read. I also found the authors' methods that they described in detail in the book to be intriguing. In the end they maintained a balanced view of Ataturk as a human, not a demigod, that I agree with.

[Yasmina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was impressed with the extensive research done to write this book.
Very intensive reading,great history book too in a way.
Ataturk's struggle for independence of Turkey and his background,childhood,relations.
Everything is in this book you want to know about Ataturk.I liked it.
It a book to keep not to loan even to friends,they will not return it.
I learned my lesson,I never loan my books anymore. LOL