Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Uludağ Üniversitesi Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, cilt.26, sa.49, ss.593-620, 2025 (Hakemli Dergi)
In the Ottoman Empire, a significant portion of public services was transferred to privileged foreign companies starting from the second half of the 19th century. By the 20th century, European capital had established dominance in strategic sectors within Ottoman territories, including railways, ports, banking, industry, and municipal services such as water, gas, and electricity. The reliance on foreign-capital companies to manage public services continued as a necessity during the Early Republican Period. However, this system was abandoned over time due to its incompatibility with national interests and the principles of a social state, as well as its inability to meet the growing demands of expanding cities and developing industries. Consequently, foreign-owned enterprises were purchased and nationalized by the state. This study employs a historical survey method, relying on primary sources such as archival documents, periodicals, and company reports to analyze the role of foreign-capital companies during the transition from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic of Turkey. It focuses on the Bursa Electricity Company as a micro-level case study. Established in 1924 by the French Omnium d’Enterprises Company, the Bursa Electricity Company was transferred to the Italian Marelli Company in 1932 and subsequently nationalized by the state in 1939, serving as a tangible example of the nationalization policies of the Republican era.