Ahmet Hamdi Başar, born in Istanbul in 1897, was active in various fields as an educator, economist, and writer. He received training in geography education, worked as a teacher, wrote on economics and statism, and played an active role in civil society and professional organizations. In 1922 he founded the National Turkish Commercial Union and served as director of the Istanbul Port Company and in management roles at İTSO. He died in 1971.

Education and Teaching Career

Ahmet Hamdi Başar received his education at various schools, learned French, and completed his studies at the Geography Department of the Faculty of Letters at Darülfünun. He began his career as a geography teacher at Çamlıca Girls High School. He applied for a university teaching position but his application was not accepted.

Activities During the War Years and Economic Writings

While still a university student, he published the journal “Ticaret-i Umumiye Mecmuası” and was among the founders of the People’s Economic Party. He served in the National Defense Organization, where he was responsible for intelligence and material transfers to Anatolia. He began engaging with economics and supported the concept of national economics.

National Turkish Commercial Union and the İzmir Economic Congress

In 1922 he founded the National Turkish Commercial Union and contributed articles to “Türkiye İktisat Mecmuası.” He actively promoted the Turkification of commerce in Istanbul and worked to ensure the effective participation of Muslim-Turks in the management of İTSO. He attended the 1923 İzmir Economic Congress as a representative of this union and presented a report containing the demands of Istanbul merchants. As a result of these demands, a structure emerged in the İTSO elections in which Muslim-Turkish merchants gained significant influence.

Istanbul Port and Economic Policies

He played an active role in the nationalization process of the Istanbul Port following the Port Law of 1925 and assumed the position of director of the Istanbul Port Company. During this period his economic views attracted the attention of the government, and in 1930 he had the opportunity to meet Mustafa Kemal.

Travel with Atatürk and Economic Reports

In 1930 he joined Atatürk’s national tour as an “Economic Advisor.” He was unable to directly share his views but submitted his wheat report to the relevant commission. He described his observations from this journey in his 1945 book titled “Three Months with Atatürk.”

Views on Economic Statism

From 1932 onward, he expressed his views on statism, planning, and economic structure in his six-volume series “Economic Statism” and in the journal “Kooperatif.” He argued that the state must play a role in the economy but opposed the bureaucratic state model. He proposed that the state’s economic functions be managed by experts and advocated for a clear distinction between administrative and economic state functions.

Later Publications and Evaluations

In his 1960 work “The Inner Face of Our Era,” he evaluated the statism policies implemented in Türkiye. He argued that democracy and freedom could be achieved in societies like Türkiye through state intervention and highlighted the necessity of paternalistic structures for economic freedom.

Death

Ahmet Hamdi Başar died in 1971.