The expression โGeography is destinyโ is a discourse that generally carries a negative meaning, emphasizing how our geographical region and economic conditions shape human well-being. The origin of this phrase, which is frequently heard in Turkey, and who said it for the first time and in what context is still a matter of debate.
Most sources attribute this saying to him with weak and repeated quotes, basing it on Ibn Khaldun's work "Mukaddime". However, Nurdan Gรผrbilek, in her book "As I Live", claims that the person who first used this expression was Ahmet Hamdi Tanpฤฑnar.
This phrase, which is frequently shared on social media and quoted without explanation, is even referred to as "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" It even appeared as a question in the competition. In Dergah Publications' translation of "Mukaddime" and similar translations, the expression "Geography is destiny" is not directly found.
In his work, Haldun deals with the physical and moral dimensions of geography; It examines the effects of climate and weather on human physical structure, behavior and morality. It tries to explain how society is shaped by the abundance or scarcity of basic needs such as food, and the role of geography in "management, administration, politics and civilization".
In this context, he emphasizes that geography is not an absolute destiny as modern people imagine, but rather it is part of a series of interactions.
Even though the use of this phrase today does not directly refer to Khaldun, it has a connotation that brings his thoughts to mind. Combined with modern man's demands for welfare, economic status, development standards and individual rights, the statement "geography is destiny" means that these expectations cannot be met and people are deprived of this deficiency.