Political Islam and the Secular State in Turkey: Democracy, Reform and the Justice and Development Party

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How safe is Turkey's liberal democracy The rise to power in 2002 of the right-leaning Islamic Justice and Development Party ignited fears in the West that Turkey could no longer be relied upon to provide a buffer against the growth of Islamic fundamentalism in the Middle East. Once hailed by the West as a model of secularism and moderation in the Muslim world, Turkey is now seen to be under the influence of the 'creeping Islamisation' of the JDP (or AKP as it is known in Turkey). Yet to what extent has this affected the lives of Turkish citizens Evangelia Axiarlis here explores the contribution of the JDP to civil liberties and basic freedoms, long suppressed by secular and statist Kemalist ideology, and how this has remained unexamined despite more than a decade in government. In this - the first detailed study of the policies and ideology of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoan's government - the author examines the extent to which the JDP has worked to improve civil life in Turkey and critically addresses whether a government built on Islamic principles can champion political reform.
Exploring how Islam and democracy are neither monoliths nor mutually exclusive, this is a timely contribution to the wider understanding of political Islam.

Reviews

"A detailed and thoughtful study of the Justice and Development Party (JDP) in Turkey and the repercussions for Turkish 'secularism' over the decade that it has been in power. Drawing on an impressive variety of sources, this study fills in a gap in the literature by focusing on debates over the meaning of Kemalism and the challenges that the current government poses. Providing a wealth of information on the specific policies of the JDP, such as with regard to constitutional reform, elections, veiling, the Kurdish problem, and relations with Europe, this book illuminates the evolutionary potential of a political movement and the multi-dimensional nature of self-identity." Prof James Piscatori, University of Durham, UK "This book provides a thoughtful and insightful perspective of the tension between the Islamic movement represented by JDP and the secular state in Turkey. It is a timely examination of political Islam and its compatibility with democracy which reflects on sensitive and significant issues in Turkey's policies towards controlling religious institutions and the problematic issues such as the role of military, the Kurdish question, human rights and the ban on using 'scarf' by women in official space. Presenting findings on how both secularism and political Islam can work in favour of progress and development in the Muslim World and offering a unique opportunity for understanding the internal dynamics of Turkish politics, this is an invaluable contribution to the study of political Islam in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey." - Dr Muhammad Kamal, The University of Melbourne, Australia

Author Bio

Evangelia Axiarlis holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne, and is a specialist in Islam and politics of Turkey.