The Turkish nationalist movement emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily in response to the decline of the Ottoman Empire. It aimed to promote a sense of national identity among the Turkish people and sought to unify various ethnic groups under a single Turkish state. Key figures, such as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, played a significant role in shaping this movement, especially after World War I. Following the war, the movement gained momentum, leading to the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923. The movement emphasized modernization, secularism, and national sovereignty, transforming the political landscape of the region and laying the foundation for contemporary Turkish identity.