ABSTRACT
Most scholars opt for a compromise, a "balanced" assessment, which stresses the originality of both the concept and external influence, and sees etatism as combined with liberalism or free private enterprise. Turkish etatism, as a vital component of a comprehensive ideology, is not basically different from other, more universal ideologies. The main target of etatism was rapid economic development in support of political and economic independence. A more rigid etatism was practiced during the war years, but this must be viewed in light of the stringent controls and government interference that prevailed even among the non-etatist belligerent countries. Etatism was an almost inescapable solution to the host or problems Turkey faced in the early 1930s. Etatism was an attempt to mobilize all available and potential domestic resources, largely in an autarkic direction, but without forgoing the advice, experience and even the assistance of other countries.
