ABSTRACT
The cultural ethos promoted by the Kemalist elite emphasized nation hood, rationality and science, secularism., modernization and political, social and legal equality of women and differed fundamentally from the earlier cultural outlook. Although on the surface the Kemalist discourse signified a radical break with conservative-traditional values, both points of view had many underlying commonalities. Neither promoted individualism and individual rights vis-a-vis the group (an orientation that only very recently came to be overtly advocated in Turkey). On the contrary, they both emphasized communitarian ism, Kemalism substituting the 'nation' for the 'community of believers' as the object of unconditional allegiance and loyalty.
