The Karaosmanoğlu Dynasty is a family that were derebey or ayans, part of the land owning elite in the peripheral provinces, during the Ottoman Empire.
The family descends from the sipahi (cavalryman) Kara Osman Ağa (born in 1666), considered of Turkic origin, from village of Yaya (Zeytinliova) in the district of Manisa.
However, the story is divided on whether the military commander was a member of an ayan’s army that took over the region to secure it for his family or if he was bandit warlord that was placated with the gift of land.
[4] Through strategic appointments in key offices with trade-regulating capabilities, the Karaosmanoğlus emerged as one of Anatolia's most influential families.
Yakup Kadri is arguing that in order to stop this exploitation the Turkish people must move past their dependence on religion in the official sphere and modernize.
He was a leading member of the World Bank where he worked from 1966 to 1994, taking a two year leave of absence to become the Turkish deputy prime minister in charge of economic policy.
This short absence from the World Bank was due to the Prime Minister at the time, Nihat Erim, rejecting the economic plans put forth by Attila and ten others.
Shortly after coming back to the World Bank Atilla was named chief economist for the Europe, Middle East and North Africa region.