Aysel Çelikel is not your typical academic from Turkey. She’s one remarkable woman who managed to navigate her career amidst the chaos of political movements and social expectations. Born in 1933, in Istanbul, Çelikel spent those formative years in a geopolitically charged environment. By 1980, she became the first female dean of Istanbul University's Faculty of Law, breaking through the glass ceiling long before such terms were coined. Some even considered her as a beacon of progress in a deeply traditional society. Yet, her life and career choices challenge the conventional liberal ideals by marrying tradition with progress, something they never seem to comprehend.
What’s remarkable about Çelikel is that she spearheaded educational reforms that upheld the importance of traditional values while embracing necessary modern changes. As someone who lived through the political turmoil of the 20th Century Turkey, she played it smart. Her approach to education and justice was always pragmatic, believing that the justice system could never function effectively based solely on idealism. Instead, it had to be rooted in reality to maintain stability and sanity—a far cry from the utopian visions liberals dream about while sipping their lattes.
In the ever-divisive field of law, Çelikel argued that upholding law and order does not mean you dismiss moving society forward. You just need to do it in a way that doesn’t implode from inside out. Her conservative, yet progressive thinking contributed significantly to the modernization of legal studies in Turkey. While others dreamed the easy dreams of the uninformed youth, she laid the difficult foundations necessary to achieve the ‘impossible’.
What sets her apart from other leaders is her service as the Minister of Justice from January to August 2002. A woman leading a ministry? That’s already a challenge. Doing it in a nation like Turkey is revolutionary. Yet, her strategies defied typical Western stereotypes. She believed in justice not just as a concept, but as an operational system that meets the unique socio-cultural demands of her nation. Anyone who thinks justice is a one-size-fits-all concept as modeled in some Western democracies should think again.
Throughout her career, she never pandered to mass expectations, neither did she succumb to the populist whims that often tether political figures. She stuck to her guns and made decisions that would benefit the many, not just the loud few. Her policies were often criticized, especially by those who live in ideological bubbles, yet they were effective and grounded in real-world applicability.
In academia, her work continues to be a foundational block in the study of law. She authored numerous books that are still a staple in Turkish legal studies. What’s even more intriguing is how she seamlessly fused Eastern and Western legal philosophies. Liberals often preach about inclusivity without understanding its true implications. Çelikel lived it, showing that you don’t need to abandon your roots to foster growth.
Aysel Çelikel didn’t just break the glass ceiling; she tore it down brick by brick, making way for women who came after her. Leaders like Çelikel prove that the tenets of conservatism – accountability, pragmatism, and tradition – don’t oppose women’s empowerment. Instead, they reinforce it by giving it a solid, sturdy platform to stand on.
It's worth noting that her work extended beyond politics and academia. She took on significant roles in various social organizations, actively contributing to charitable institutions, showing once again that meaningful change can come from a commitment to community rather than pandering to an unattainable ideal.
In an age where sensationalism often trumps realism, Aysel Çelikel stands as a testament to what can be achieved with a grounded approach in law, governance, and life in general. She achieved her objectives without abandoning her culture or ethics, setting an example for anyone willing to follow in such formidable footsteps.