Prof. Dr. Bülent Nuri ESEN (1911-1975)

Professor Esen was born in Izmir. He completed his early education at Galatasaray High School and went on to read law at the School of Law (Istanbul University). In 1937, he earned his Ph.D and was awarded the title “Juris Doctor”_[1] from Sorbonne (University of Paris). In 1939, he was invited to join_[2] the Ankara University. He became a full-professor of Constitutional Law in 1946. 1941‑1951, Professor Esen lectured at the Faculty of Political Sciences (Ankara University). As of 1965, he also started teaching at the Faculty of Education (Ankara University).

Very first Turkish book on “Labour Law” was written and published by Professor Esen in 1944. In 1950, he published “Wie man in der Türkei  recht Spricht” in Berlin together with Albert Nauck and Co.Stenda Verlag. In 1957, Professor Esen analysed constitutional law simultaneously with political law, which has been  a first in Turkey.

Throughout his tenure he attended numerous international scientific meetings/conferences. In 1967, he was invited to lecture at Brussels Faculty of Law. He represented Ankara University at IPSA (International Political Sciences) 1968.

1963-1964, Professor Esen studied the English parliamentary system/procedures in London. He has been a significant player in launching the Faculty of Education at Ankara University. 1967‑1969,  he served as the dean of this faculty. There, he established the department of Human Rights, and lectured on this subject as well as “Fundamental Democratic Institutions”.

In 1965, Professor Esen organized an international colloquium in Turkey to celebrate the 750. Anniversary of the Magna Carta.

He was both the founder and the head of the Turkish sections of the ICJ and “Fédération des juristes Européens”. He adjudicated for the American Arbitration Association. Professor Esen was decorated by the Government of France with the medal of “Ensign of Honour by Palmes Academiqués”. He also received the medal of “Officier d’Acedémie” from the University of Brussels.

Besides his academic endeavaurs, Professor Esen had a distinguished law practice for over 35 years and undertaken civil as well as some high-profile international cases.

Professor Esen had excellent command of French and English. He died in 1975.

Notes

1.     His thesis was ““Le Contrat d’Assurance d’Apres la Législation Turque”

2.     The thesis that was instrumental in this invitation was “Akit Yapma Vadinin Hususiyetleri”

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Professor Esen’s wife, Türkan lived 1920- 2000. Daughter of one of the first members of parliment in Turkey, she was a graduate of School of Law (Ankara University). She is buried next to her husband in Ankara’s Cebeci Cemetery.

His elder son Ömer Esen, oesen1@gmail.com, was born in 1942 in Ankara. Omer graduated from Faraday House Engineering College (London, England) specializing in Electronics and Telecommunications. Having held a number of senior engineering and executive positions, he retired in 2002 when he was the Chief Operating Officer of a multi‑national corporation listed on NASDAQ. Omer also served as the Chairman of the Canadian Plastic Sector Council for a number of years. He has been in Canada for the past half century. Omer’s son Kent (born in 1970) is a marketing/sales professional.

Professor Esen’s second son Selim Esen, selimesen@gmail.com, was born in Ankara in 1943. He graduated from the Faculty of Economics. He then furthered his academic studies on mass media communications. Selim retired in 1992 after working as a journalist, administrator and a board member of the Turkish Radio Television corporation. He also served as an executive of the Anotolian News Agency. He is currently engaged in organizing  literary events, writing books, as well as  contributing to various publications and periodicals both in Turkey and elswhere.

Selim’s daughter Selin Esen esen@politics.ankara.edu.tr, was born in 1971 in Ankara. She competed her higher education at 2 different universities and now lectures at the Department of Constitutional Law in the Faculty of Political Sciences (Ankara University) as an Assisstant Professor. Selim’s son, Bülent Nuri Esen was born in 1976 in Ankara and graduated from School of Tourism and Hotel Management (Hacettepe University). At present, he is engaged in the food preparation industry.

Professor Esen’s only daughter Define was born in 1957 in Ankara. She graduated from the Department of Economics and Industrial Relations (Istanbul Technical University). She currently lives in Miami, USA.

Books:

1-     Slavery and Freedom, İstanbul [t.y.] Nebioğlu Yayınevi. 214s. (Together with Dr. O.Nebioğlu)

2-     Purchasing and Selling in accordance with the Turkish Law of Obligations (beyi), İstanbul 1935, Bozkurt Matbaası, 76 s. “İstanbul Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Talebe Cemiyeti Neşriyatından”

3-     Le contrat d’assurance d’après la législation Turque. Thèse. Paris, 1938, Librairie Générale de Droit et de Jurisprudence. 186 s.

4-     Turkish Civil Law. Notes of a student. Ankara 1941, Recep Ulusoğlu Matbaası. 380 s.

5-     Turkish Civil Law. Ankara 1942, Recep Ulusoğlu Basımevi. 380 s.

6-     Turkish Civil Law Handbook. Volume 1. İstanbul 1943, Maarif Matbaası. 144 s. “T.C. Maarif Vekilliği Siyasal Bilgiler Okulu Yayınlarından, No: 13”

7-     What is Insurance? İstanbul 1944, Kâğıt ve Basım İşleri A.Ş. IV+90 s.

8-     Turkish Business Law. Ankara 1944, Maarif Matbaası. IX+220 s. “Ankara Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Yayınlarından, II. Seri, No:28”

9-     Constitutional Law. Ankara 1945, Alâeddin Kıral Matbaası. VIII+214 s.

10-  Commentary on Law to Let Possess Land for the Farmers. Ankara 1945, Alâeddin Kıral Matbaası. 43 s.

11-  Insurance Information-Knowledge. Ankara 1945, Milli Eğitim Basımevi. 45 s. “İyi Yaşama Serisi”

12-  Constitutional Law  ^2nd Edition.  Ankara 1946, Milli Eğitim Basımevi. X+222 s.

13-  Constitutional Law 3rd Edition. Ankara 1948, Arbas Matbaası. 240 s.

14-  Wie man in der Türkei Recht Spricht. Zürich 1950, Scientia Verlag. 55 s.

15-  Constitutional Law and Political Law. İstanbul 1957, Nebioğlu Yayınevi. 256 s.

16-  Slavery and Freedom. What is Freedom? İstanbul 1960, Nebioğlu Yayınevi. 144 s.

17-  Fundamentals of the Constitutional Law. Ankara 1963, Resimli Posta Matbaası. 302 s.

18-  Key to the Constitution. Ankara 1965, Ajans-Türk Matbaası. IV+120 s. “Ankara Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Yayınları, No:203”

19-  Understanding Constitutional Law According to Constitutional Court of Justice. Ankara 1966, Ankara Üniversitesi Basımevi. 5+102 s. “Ankara Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Yayınları No: 206”

20-  Turkish Constitutional Law Fascicle 1. Ankara 1968,Ayyıldız Matbaası A.Ş. 4 y+159s.

21-  La Turquie. Paris 1969, Librairie Générale de Droit et de Jurisprudence. 276 s. “Comment Ils Sont Gouvernés, T.21”

22-  Constitutional Law. General Fundamentals. Ankara 1970, Ayyıldız Matbaası. VIII 4-616 s.

23-  Turkish Constitutional Law Fascicle 1. Ankara 1971, Ayyıldız Matbaası. 156 s.

24-  Interpretation of The Constitutional Law by The Constitutional Court of Justice. Ankara 1972, Sevinç Matbaası. 86 s. “Ankara Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Yayınları, No: 301”

Studies-Articles-Conferences

1-     An important Exception to classic deficiency theory. (İzmir. Bar. Der. 1935, Sa. 2, s.147-150)

2-     Freedom of insurance contracts. (İzmir. Bar. Der. 1937, Sa. 1 /9, s.41-46)

3-     Obligatory car insurance and law Project. (İzmir. Bar. Der. 1938, Sa.3/11, s.165-175)

4-     Right to not making a contract. (İzmir. Bar. Der. 1938, Sa. 4/12, s.263-270)

5-     Coverage of contract to look after until death. (İzmir. Bar. Der. 1938, Sa. 1/13, s.1-8)

6-     Promises to make a contract. (Ad. Cer. 1939, Sa. 12, s.1385-1418)

7-     Restrictions to right to own property of the citizens. (C.H.P. Konferanslar Serisi. 1940, Kitap: 18, s.51-69)

8-     Right to own property.  (İzmir. Bar. Der. 1941-1942, Sa. 3/23, s.257-264)

9-     Adopting the legal language to Turkish. (İzmir. Bar. Der. 1941-1942, Sa. 3/23, s.283-287)

10-  A view of works of Law of Obligations in Turkey. (AHFD 1943 I, Sa. 1, s.138-145)

11-  Effects of the war on civil law. (Ad. Der. 1944, Sa. 21, s.247-252)

12-  Bibliography. (AHFD 1944, I, Sa. 3, s.459-464)

13-  Right to have political activities. (AHFD 1950 VII, Sa. 3-4, s.58-62)

14-  About the imaginary obscene. (Ank. Bar. Der. 1953, Sa. 5, s.381-384)

15-  Constitutional developments in Turkey. (AHFD 1968 XXV, Sa. 1-2, s.35-58)

16-  Le role des écoles de droit dans les pays en voie de développement. (AHFD 1969 XXVI, Sa. 3-4, s.23-30)

17-  Vers une “Polarisation Universelle des Droits de L’Homme” dans un monde nouveau. Un résumé. (AHFD 1969 XXVI, Sa. 3-4, s.31-44)

18-  A happening in Turkish Constitutional Law. (AHFD 1969 XXVI, Sa. 3-4, s.343-346)

19-  Uğural, Ragıp: Advice to the statesmen. (Book examination) (AHFD 1969, XXVI, Sa. 3-4, s.347-348)

20-  Educational dimension. Track to be followed by the ungovernmental organizations on develpoment of the human rights. Trans: Şahin Alpay. (A.Ü. Eğitim Fak. Der. 1969 II, Sa. 1-4, s.189-196)

21-  Constitution and institutions of higher education. İstanbul 1969 Nebioğlu Yayınevi. 15 s.

22-  Ce que le jeune juriste peut apporter aux organisations internationales. (AHFD 1970 XXVII, Sa. 1-2, s.25-30)

23-  Outstanding works on human rights. Book examination. (AHFD 1970 XXVII, Sa. 3-4, s.343-345)

24-  Human rights and political life. (A. Ü. Eğitim Fak. Der. 1970 III, Sa. 1-4, s.35-45)

25-  Freedom of conscience and secularism. Seminar on Turkish human rights. 1970, s.10-29)

26-  Protection of individual human rights in personal private relations in Turkish system. (A. Ü. Eğitim Fak. Der. 1971 IV, Sa. 1-4, s.5-17)

27-  Système Turc de protection des droits de l'homme dans les rapports entre personnes privées. (René Cassin. Amicorum Discipulorumque Liber. I I I. 1971. s.163-176)

28-  Letter to a living dead. (Present to Oguzoglu) 1972. s.3-5)

29-  About democracy. (Present to Oguzoglu) 1972. s.597-606)

30-  Reflexions sur le droit de vivre en paix. (Miscellanea W. J. Ganshof Van Der Meersch. Tome. I. 1972, s.487-497)

31-  La vie politique et les droits de l’homme. (René Cassin. Amicorum Discipulorumque Liber. IV. 1972. s.173- 1

Translations:

1-     Status of High Court of Justice. İstanbul 1934.

2-     Constitution of the French Republic. (AHFD 1948 V, Sa. 1-4, s.1-17)

3-     Tesauro, Prof. Dr. Alfonso: Dual parliament system in trial of constitution. (Ad. Der. 1949, Sa. 9, s.1236-1245)

4-     Tesauro, Prof. Dr. Alfonso: Election systems and trial of these in new constitutional systems. (AHFD 1949 VI, Sa. 2-4, s.18-26)

5-     International declaration of the human rights. Beginning. (tn. Hak. 1949 Sa. 26, s.3-6)

6-     Constitution of Peoples Republic of Hungary. (AHFD 1951 VIII, Sa. 1-2, s.765-776)

7-     Divorce-Extramartila relation of the claimant. Decision of the Federal Court. (Ank. Bar. Der. 1953, Sa. 4, s.339-340)

8-     Burdeau, Prof. Georges: Synthethic trial of democracy. Ankara 1964 Ajans-Türk Matbaası. VII + 113 s. Ankara Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Yayınlarından, No: 188)

9-     Lambroschini, Charles: Is there really a student’s international? (AHFD 1968 XXV, Sa. 3-4, s.73-78)

10-  Fabre, Prof. Dr. Michel-Henri: What is republic? (AHFD 1968 XXV, Sa. 3-4, s.79-83)

Fabre, Prof. Dr. Michel-Henri: What does constitutional rule mean? (AHFD 1968 XXV, Sa. 3-4, s.85-89)