Atatürk Research Center

Atatürk Research Center (ATAM) is a public legal entity established on 17 August 1983 under Law No. 2876 on the Atatürk Higher Institute of Culture Language and History, in accordance with Article 134 of the Constitution of the Republic of Türkiye. ATAM, one of four institutions under the Atatürk Higher Institute of Culture Language and History, was restructured by Presidential Decree No. 664 dated 2 November 2011. The institution’s fundamental purpose is defined as conducting scientific research on Atatürk’s personality, thought, principles and reforms, as well as the history of the Republic of Türkiye, publishing the results of these studies, and promoting them nationally and internationally. Operating under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, ATAM aims to disseminate Atatürkist thought and Republican values through scientific activities, publications, scholarship programs, and library services.

The Atatürk Research Center was established on 17 August 1983 under Law No. 2876 within the framework of the Atatürk Higher Institute of Culture Language and History. This law, grounded in Article 134 of the Constitution, mandated ATAM to carry out scientific research on Atatürk and the history of the Republic of Türkiye and to function as an institution active in this field. Presidential Decree No. 664 issued on 2 November 2011 redefined the institution’s duties, specifying responsibilities such as examining and publishing scientific and cultural works related to Atatürk’s personality, thought, principles and reforms and the Republican period, organizing scientific meetings, and supporting researchers and graduate students.

Following the constitutional amendment approved by the referendum on 16 April 2017, the phrase “subordinate to the Prime Ministry” in Article 134 of the Constitution was updated to “subordinate to the minister appointed by the President of the Republic.” By Presidential Circular No. 2018/1 dated 15 July 2018, ATAM was placed under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Since its establishment, ATAM has operated across a broad research domain encompassing all values of the Republican period, including history, economics, law, political science, public administration, culture, religion, international relations, sociology, thought and art.

The duties of the Atatürk Research Center are outlined in Article 9 of Presidential Decree No. 664. The institution’s primary objective is to conduct scientific research on Atatürk, the National Struggle and the history of the Republic of Türkiye, publish the findings of these studies, and promote Atatürkist thought nationally and internationally. In this context, ATAM’s duties include:

• Examining, publishing or commissioning the publication of sources and works related to Atatürk’s personality, thought, principles and reforms and the history of the Republic of Türkiye.
• Collecting and organizing scientifically books, brochures, journals and similar materials written in Turkish and foreign languages.
• Organizing scientific meetings, excursions and exhibitions.
• Supporting researchers and graduate students.
• Supporting domestic and foreign individuals and institutions that produce outstanding works on Atatürkist thought, principles and reforms and the establishment and development of the Republic.

The mission of the institution is to research and disseminate all aspects of Atatürk, the National Struggle and the history of the Republic of Türkiye; its vision is to become a pioneering institution that studies the values of Atatürk and the Republican period from a scientific perspective. ATAM carries out its activities within the framework of strategic planning and performance-based budgeting systems in accordance with Law No. 5018 on Public Financial Management and Control.

The administrative structure of the Atatürk Research Center is regulated by Presidential Decree No. 664. The institution consists of a Director General, Deputy Director General, Directorate of Human Resources and Support Services, Directorate of Strategy Development, Directorate of Scientific Studies, and expert and assistant expert staff. ATAM has no regional offices but includes a Science Council that makes policy decisions to ensure the effective implementation of its duties. As of December 2023, 47 personnel are employed at the institution, utilizing 53 percent of the allocated 90 positions. Staff status and personal rights are governed by Law No. 2876 and Law No. 657 on Civil Servants. Position-related procedures are regulated by Presidential Decree No. 2.

ATAM operates under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and is subject to the supervision of the Presidency of the Republic. The institution collaborates in coordination with the Atatürk Cultural Center, the Turkish Language Association and the Turkish Historical Society. Additionally, it maintains relations with the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, the Presidency of Strategy and Budget, and universities in the context of budgeting, performance and scientific activities.

As of October 2024, the Director General of ATAM is Associate Professor Dr. Ahmet Kılınç. A specialist in legal history, he has conducted research on Ottoman criminal law, judicial organization and the millet system. He served as a research assistant at Kırıkkale and Gazi Universities between 2004 and 2013 and has been a faculty member at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University since 2013. He has also held various positions at the Turkish Historical Society and the Atatürk Higher Institute of Culture Language and History.

Since its establishment, the Atatürk Research Center has organized national and international congresses, symposia, panels, workshops and conferences. The event calendar is planned around the anniversaries of historical events, with particular emphasis on scientifically examining the impact of events from the National Struggle and Republican periods on the present and future. The International Atatürk Congress, held every four years, is among the most significant of these events and aims to present the knowledge, documents and syntheses obtained to the Turkish and global public.

The institution has published numerous research and study works. Papers presented at scientific meetings are compiled into books, and series publications on Atatürkism are issued. The Atatürk Research Center Journal, published since 1984, features original and scholarly articles and has been accepted into the TÜBİTAK ULAKBİM Social and Human Sciences Database since 2016. ATAM serves researchers and readers through its specialized library, e-store and book sales office and conducts publication promotion activities at book fairs and universities. Additionally, it provides scholarships to successful graduate students studying topics related to the Republican period.

The Atatürk Research Center is subject to Law No. 5018 on Public Financial Management and Control and is a special budgetary public administration. Its revenue sources include allocations from the general budget, donations and bequests, income generated by the institution, and other revenues. Under the 2023 Central Government Budget Law, a budget allocation of 24,468,000 TL was assigned to ATAM; after additional appropriations during the year, the final allocation reached 32,169,000 TL. Of this, 88.62 percent (28,508,432.73 TL) was utilized. Budget revenues amounted to 33,939,428.09 TL, exceeding the initial estimate of 24,468,000 TL; operational income reached 32,939,422.09 TL, operational expenditure was 28,029,170.12 TL, and a positive operational result of 4,910,251.97 TL was achieved.

Budget allocations and expenditures, classified by economic category, are as follows:

• Personnel Expenditures: 14,794,000 TL (expenditure: 14,419,484.01 TL, 97.47 percent).
• State Premiums for Social Security: 1,849,000 TL (expenditure: 1,790,527.06 TL, 96.84 percent).
• Goods and Services Procurement Expenditures: 11,846,000 TL (expenditure: 10,629,295.08 TL, 89.73 percent).
• Current Transfers: 1,180,000 TL (expenditure: 951,046.58 TL, 80.60 percent).
• Capital Expenditures: 2,500,000 TL (expenditure: 718,080 TL, 28.73 percent).

Accounting procedures are carried out in accordance with the Central Government Accounting Regulation within the Ministry of Treasury and Finance’s State Accounting Information System; payment order documents are recorded in the Integrated Public Financial Management Information System. Financial reports are submitted to the Court of Accounts, and audits are conducted based on documents such as balance sheets and statements of operational results.

ATAM conducts its activities under the strategic planning and performance-based budgeting system established by Law No. 5018. The 2024–2028 Strategic Plan was prepared in accordance with the principles of transparency and accountability and identifies two main objectives supporting the institution’s core duties:

Objective : Conduct, support and disseminate scientific research on Atatürk and the history of the Republic of Türkiye. In this context:

Objective : Enhance institutional capacity. In this context:

Performance programs translate strategic objectives into annual targets; activity reports include organizational structure, resources, activities, performance targets and reasons for deviations. ATAM’s internal control system is structured in compliance with the Public Internal Control Standards Notice; the control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication, and monitoring standards have been implemented. However, the institution does not have an internal audit unit.

The Atatürk Research Center is subject to Law No. 6085 on the Court of Accounts and international audit standards. The Court of Accounts audited ATAM’s 2023 financial reports and statements. The audit assessed the accuracy, reliability and legal compliance of the financial reports and obtained sufficient audit evidence. The Court of Accounts concluded that ATAM’s 2023 financial reports contain accurate and reliable information in all significant aspects. The institution effectively operates its financial management and internal control systems and maintains accurate and complete accounting records.