Bir Siyasi İmge Olarak Çocuk Ve Savaşlar: I. Dünya Savaşı Örneği

Children has been the integral parts of societies since ancient times. However, the quality, extent and manner of the viewpoints to child change regarding the historical perspective. These differences depend on the social and cultural development of societies, their organization and the principles of sovereignty in the societies. Firstly, the child was regarded as a “living assets who provides economic benefits”. In 20th century, however, the child was regarded as the most important human resource which determines the future of the society. This century was also called “child century” because of the researches which philosophers, educators, psychologists and lawyers carried out and their suggestions for their developments and rights. This century is also a “war century”. Wars come first in the memory of societies. In wars, which aggrieve people, affecting their psychologies and transforms societies, a lot of propaganda tools were used. Children come first among these tools. Especially in the First World War, it is seen that modern war concept came up, the opportunities to get weapons increased and the war spread from the front lines to the cities. This is also the period in which children were commonly used as tools to lead societies. In this paper, how these children were used as tools to lead societies will be described by means of banners and pictures gained by scanning various local and foreign archives and a period will be shed light on. In this perspective, the First World War will be mentioned briefly and examples of countries’ propaganda tools in the war period will be given. The viewpoints of the powers of the period to children will be explained.