Islamism, Democracy And Liberalism In Turkey: The Case Of The Akp (routledge Studies In Middle Eastern Politics)

Annotation The Justice and Development Party (AKP) were elected to power in 2002 and since then Turkish politics has undergone considerable change. This book is a comprehensive analysis of the AKP, in terms not just of its ideological agenda, but also of its social basis and performance in office in the main theatres of public policy €“ political reform, and cultural, economic and foreign policies. Based on an extensive analysis of official and party documents, interviews, academic sources and media coverage, the book outlines the main features of the current global debate on the relationship between Islam, Islamism and democracy. While most top AKP leaders come from an Islamist background, the party has behaved as a moderate, centre-right, conservative democratic party who are fully committed to democracy, a free market economy and Turkey€™s EU membership. The book explores and analyses these changes in Turkish politics, and provides coverage of the workings of the contemporary Turkish political systems, policy and ideological issues that go to the heart of Turkish identity. Filling a gap in the existing Turkish and English literature on the subject, this book will be an important contribution to Political Science, particularly the areas of Turkish politics, Middle Eastern studies, Islamic studies and comparative politics. Title Page ......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Introduction......Page 12 Part I The AKP's history, ideology, social bases and organisation......Page 24 1 The history of Islamist parties in Turkey......Page 26 2 The AKP's ideology......Page 43 3 The AKP's social bases......Page 53 4 Party organisation......Page 67 Part II The AKP in government......Page 76 5 Democratising reforms and constitutional issues......Page 78 6 Cultural policies......Page 91 7 The AKP government and the military......Page 103 8 The AKP and the Turkish economy......Page 122 9 Foreign policy and the AKP......Page 142 Conclusions, assessments and expectations......Page 171 Notes......Page 182 Sources......Page 213 Bibliography......Page 216 Index......Page 228 William Hale And Ergun Özbudun. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.