The key figure in the establishment of modern Turkey was Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire following World War I, Atatürk emerged as a leader advocating for a secular, national state. He implemented sweeping reforms, including the adoption of a new legal system, educational modernization, and women's rights. His policies aimed to transform Turkey into a contemporary nation-state, distancing it from its Ottoman past. Atatürk’s vision and leadership have made him a pivotal figure in Turkey’s transition to a republic.