THE REFLECTION OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS OF 1929 IN THE TURKISH PRESS

Year 2022, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 195 - 211, 31.12.2022

Rabia Yaman , Metin Kopar

https://doi.org/10.52735/bellek.1220484

Abstract

Economics, which involves activities that societies engage in to meet their needs, is also directly proportional to welfare. Stabilizing and maintaining this economic welfare is as equally important as providing it. A fully established economic system and a war-free environment are required for the stabilization of the economy. As can be seen from its examples in history, war is a phenomenon affecting not only the economy of war-supporting states but also that of all states. However, when we look at the first quarter of the the1900s, it would be impossible to state that the world was war-free at the time. During this period, the world faced many wars and underwent a rather difficult process, especially during World War I. The state that could come out of this war, deeply affecting economics, with the least damage was the U.S. However, the fact Europe could not pay its loans to the U.S. and that it could not meet its expectations led the U.S. into a major crisis.
In this study, the economic crisis that emerged in the USA in 1929 was examined in general terms, and the impact of the crisis in Turkey was mentioned. Here too, especially the newspapers of the period were consulted, and thus, what kind of effect the crisis had on society was examined. At the same time, the research works related to the great depression were also examined and the findings of the previous studies were also included. However, as the main source, the newspapers published at regular intervals were taken into consideration, and thus, it was aimed to look at the examined period from different perspectives. Newspapers, which also enable us to witness the period under review, have also been sources that allow seeing the events from many perspectives since they are publications containing different views. Thanks to the press, the footsteps of the crisis were heard all over the world in a short time, and as the sphere of influence expanded, the countries in the circle of the crisis continued to inform society with their local publications. Therefore, the area of influence created by this crisis in Turkey has become clearer with the press, and this area of influence is included in this study.
As a result of the sources examined, it has been seen that the economic crisis of 1929 has been a crisis that has been making its footsteps heard for a long time. The approaching crisis, as the economic imbalance experienced especially after World War I, made itself felt in the USA, which is the strong front of the economy, broke out after a short time, although precautions were taken. The string of causes created a huge impact in a short time, and this first showed itself with the sudden drop in the US stock market. After this decline, a serious imbalance process started in the market and soon spread to Europe. With the expansion of its sphere of influence, it did not take long for the crisis to take its place in Turkey as well, and movements began with disruptions in foreign trade. In this process, although various measures were taken for Turkey to overcome the crisis with the least damage, due to the widening of the impact area of the crisis and the inadequate measures taken, Turkey was also affected by the crisis.
The newspapers published in Turkey in 1929 did not give full coverage of the crisis at the beginning, but they talked about the movements in the world market. However, in the newspapers that also mentioned the depreciation of the Turkish Lira against the Sterling, the news mostly continued on this depreciation in the next period. However, as this loss of value grew and began to shake the trade balance in a short time, the news started to focus on the measures to be taken by the government. From time to time, the newspapers, which refer to the measures, did not attribute the loss of value experienced for a long time to the great depression, but towards the end of 1929, the great depression also reflected in the Turkish press with the imbalance in the world market. It has been emphasized that Turkey is also under the influence of the current crisis, and especially measures have been taken in the ongoing process.
In 1930, the newspapers, which made the crisis the main agenda, gave information about the current economic situation of the country and published the measures taken. The situation in the country during the crisis was reflected transparently, along with the newspapers that occasionally criticize them. The crisis against all measures and measures has seriously affected the economy of young Turkey, which is still being established, and this crisis has been one of the most important turning points in the country. After the measures taken in the period following the economic crisis, new economic policies were also determined, and with the decrease in the effects of the crisis, a new economic period based on agricultural and industrial production started in Turkey.

Keywords

Economic Policy, The Great Depression of 1929, Turkish Press

1929 EKONOMİK KRİZİNİN TÜRK BASININDAKİ YANSIMASI

Abstract

Toplumların, ihtiyaçlarını karşılayabilmek adına giriştikleri faaliyetleri kapsayan ekonomi, aynı zamanda refahla da doğru orantılıdır. Bu iktisadi refahı sağlamak kadar dengede tutmak, sürekliliğini korumak da oldukça önemlidir. Ekonomiyi dengede tutabilmek için ise tam anlamıyla oturmuş bir iktisadi sisteme ve savaştan uzak bir ortama ihtiyaç vardır. Zira tarihteki emsallerinden de görülebileceği gibi savaş, yalnızca savaş taraftarı devletlerin değil, tüm dünya devletlerinin ekonomilerini sarsan bir durumdur. Fakat 1900’lü yılların ilk çeyreği incelendiğinde savaştan uzak bir dünyayla karşılaşmak pek de mümkün değildir. Bu dönemde dünya, birçok savaşla karşı karşıya kaldığı gibi, özellikle I. Dünya Savaşı’yla zorlu bir sürece girmiştir. Ekonomiyi derinden etkileyen bu savaşı en az hasarla atlatan devlet ise ABD olmuştur. Fakat özellikle Avrupa’ya verdiği kredilerin ödenememesi ve beklentilerinin karşılanmaması ABD’yi, büyük krize doğru sürüklemiştir.
ABD’de 1929 yılında, borsadaki ani düşüşle patlak veren fakat bunun dışında da birçok sebebi olan kriz, kısa sürede Avrupa’yı etkisi altına almıştır. Dönemin en güçlü ekonomisinin bir anda çökmesiyle başlayan bu krizin Türkiye’de kendine yer bulması da zor olmamıştır. Fakat krizden etkilenen diğer devletlere nazaran bu süreci daha az hasarla atlatan Türkiye’de krizin ayak sesleri, Türk lirasının değer kaybetmesiyle başlamış ve ithalat ve ihracatın düşmesiyle de devam etmiştir. Genç Türkiye’nin karşısına çıkan bu ilk kriz, Türk basınında da uzunca bir süre yer edinmiştir. İlk etapta yalnızca Türk lirasının değer kaybından bahseden gazeteler bir süre sonra krizin Türkiye’yi de etkilediğini vurgulamaya başlamışlardır. Bu çalışmada da 1929-1930 yılları arasında Türkiye’de yayımlanan bazı gazeteler incelenmiş ve ekonomik krizin basındaki yansımalarına yer verilmiştir.

Keywords

İktisadi Politika, 1929 Dünya Ekonomik Buhranı, Türk Basını

References

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• Duman, Erhan, Krizlerin Anatomisi: 1929 Ekonomik Buhranı ve 2008 Küresel Krizi’nin Karşılaştırılması, (Yayınlanmamış Yüksek Lisans Tezi), Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Karaman, 2011.
• Erbay, Recep ve Hemen, Berfin, “1929 Ekonomik Buhranı’nın Türk Ekonomisi’ne Etkileri ve Buhran Döneminde Keynesyen Yaklaşım”, Balkan ve Yakın Doğu Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, Cilt: 5, Sayı: 3, Tekirdağ, 2019, ss. 124-130.