"The last two centuries of the Turks represent a grand historical journey that must be carefully reviewed by the entire Eastern world and the Balkans. For this reason, it is an important part of World History," states İlber Ortaylı. In The Republic’s First Century: 1923–2023, Ortaylı joins acclaimed journalist İsmail Küçükkaya for a deep-dive conversation that maps the DNA of modern Turkey.

This comprehensive volume traces the stones of the new state back to the modernization period of the Ottoman Empire. The narrative follows the adventures of young Ottoman officers seeking freedom during the reign of Abdulhamid II, the fervor of the National Struggle, and the transition from the single-party era to the multi-party political life of the 1950s. The authors fearlessly address the nation’s most enduring challenges, including the history of coups, constitutional evolution from 1876 to the present, and the "Kurdish question."

Beyond politics, the book examines the sociological dynamics that have defined a century—urbanization, economic growth, and the shifting quality of daily life. From foreign policy milestones like the Cyprus Peace Operation and the EU adventure to the ideological currents of Islamism, Nationalism, and Social Democracy, this work provides an essential framework for any reader wishing to understand the historical forces that carried Turkey into its second century. It is a definitive bedside guide for those invested in the past and future of the Republic.