Research Information System
History Studies, vol.14, no.1, pp.49-72, 2022 (Scopus)
From the foundation of the Republic to the law enacted in 1954, the governments directly undertook the oil exploration activities in Turkey. However, because the desired result could not be achieved and the need for oil increased each year, the new Petroleum Law, prepared by an American expert, was enacted on March 7, 1954. This law, which envisages oil exploration activities to be carried out by domestic and foreign private entrepreneurs, has been discussed since the mid-1960s on the grounds that it is against the interests of the country, and has become the most important agenda item in politics. In addition to the political parties of the period, labor unions and youth organizations also took part in this discussion. The predominant view was to nationalize oil by enacting a new oil law. However, the Justice Party did not accept the demands in this direction, both when it was a coalition partner and when it was in power alone. However, the EP Government, which could not remain indifferent to the oil problem, which the opposition had insistently kept on the agenda since 1965, prepared a new Draft Petroleum Law in 1968. The fact that this draft could not meet the expectations of the public and a new law could not be enacted caused this problem to be carried over to the 1970s.