Transformation of Political Islam in Turkey

Hakan Kni

What is Political Islam?

Rule accoding to Islamic Sharia?
Islam and Politics

Party ideology secular in politics but supportive of Islam in social and cultual areas?
Secular Politics Islam

Transformation of Political Islam in Turkey

From NOP, NSP, WP and VP to JDP. From National View to Conservative Democracy. Focus: Transformation of party program and goals.

Changes in the Party Program and Goals

Foreign Policy Nationalism and National Identity Secularism, Religion and Moral Values Economic Policy Democratization Centralization versus Local Government Style of Politics

Political Islam in Turkey

National Order Party (Milli Nizam Partisi) (1970-1971) (abolished with the 1971 coup) National Salvation Party SP (Milli Selamet Partisi) (19711980) (abolished with the 1980 coup) Welfare Party (Refah Partisi): (1983-1998) (abolished by the Constitutional Court after the Feb 28th 1997 post-modern coup) Virtue Party (Fazilet Partisi) (1998-2001) (abolished by the Constitutional Court) Felicity Party (Saadet Partisi) (2001- present) Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalknma Partisi) (2001- present) (Brought to a court case with the allegation of violating secularism)

Foreign Policy

1. 2.

National View Parties (NOP, NSP and WP)

Cultural Westernization Economic, political, military and social integration with the West Zionism EU integration NATO Globalization (IMF, WB)

3. 4. 5. 6.

NW: Opposition to West, Orientation to Middle East

1.

2.

3.

4.
5. West as: 1. Plotting against Turkey 2. Crusaders 3. Christian club 4. Imperialist 5. Mother of all evels

Social, cultural, economic, political integration with the Muslim World Muslim Common Market, Curency, NATO, UN Turkish leadership in the Muslim world Justice among nations Great Turkey once again

Justice and Development Party (JDP):

Multi Dimensional Foreign Policy
NW: Cultural FP
1. Active participation in NATO, UN missions 2. Strategic partnetship with US and dependent institutions 3. Stong support for integration with EU and other global structures 4. Improved relations with Muslim and Turkism world on an interest based way (energy) 5. Abondoning the idea of Turkish leadership in the Middle East and Central Asia 6. Use of socio-cultural values to maximize interests 7. Reaction to Israel due to violations of human rights

Anti-western, antiglobalization, anti-Zionist,

JDP:
Pragmatist, interestbased, rational

Nationalism and National Identity

NOP-NSP
NOP-NSP:
1.

WP:
1. Addition of the sentence that party respects Ataturkist nationalism. Saves other features. 1.

VP:
Emphasis on common religious, moral, cultural values abandoned More civic concept of a citizenship is adopted rejecting discrimination on the base of language, religion, sect, and race. Differences were recognized and respected. 1. 2.

JDP:
Nation described in civic terms Rejection of nationalism based on religion, ethnicty and regionalism. The idea of Turkish citizenship as a cement for national unity and integrity. Ethnic, cultural, linguistic diversity deemed as a richness with respect to the Kurdish population.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Nation described in religious terms. Promotion of national unity around common goals, history , culture and morality. Promotion of the idea of citizenship for non-Muslim citizens. Use of religion against the spread of communism. Resistance against westernization in cultural and moral arenas.

2.

2.

3.

4.

3.

Secularism, Religion and Moral Values

NOP-NSP
NOP-NSP: 1. Secularism understood as freedom of thought and conscience 2. Rejection of secularism as an instrument of opression 3. Promotion of religious education against ignorance and for the practice of apolitical aspects of Islam WP: 1. Agrees with the former party in all senses 2. Promotion of education against communist infiltration 3. Religious education to accompany massive industrialization project 4. Promotion of Islamic morality as a panacea for socio-economic problems VP: 1. Support for freedom of speech, thought, religion, conscience. 2. Opposition to discrimination on the base of language, religion, sect, race nd the guarantee of freedom of conscience

JDP
1. Identification of all people living in Turkey as equal citizens regardless of their differences 2. Respect for national, religious and universal values 3. Secularism as a precondition of democracy and guarantee of freedom of conscience and belief 4. Opposition to interpretation of secularism as enmity against religion 5. Support for freedom of conscience also as a part of individual rights and liberties needed for democratic consolidation and liberal democracy 6. Freedom of conscience justified in terms of universal norms, human rights, rule of law and democracy 7. Termination of the idea that religious consciousness is a precondition for material development 8. Promotion of religious education within constitutional limits