Secularism and Muslim Democracy in Turkey (Cambridge Middle East Studies, Series Number 28)

In 2002 the Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) swept to power in Turkey. Since then it has shied away from a hard-line ideological stance in favour of a more conservative and democratic approach. In this book, M. Hakan Yavuz negotiates this ambivalence asking whether it is possible for a political party with a deeply religious ideology to liberalise and entertain democracy or whether, as he contends, radical religious groups moderate their practices and ideologies when forced to negotiate a competitive and rule-based political system. The author explores the thesis through an analysis of the rise and evolution of the AKP and its more recent 2007 election victory. The book, which tackles a number of important issues including political participation, economics and internal security, provides a masterful survey of modern Turkish and Islamic politics, which will be of interest to a broad range of readers from students to professionals and policymakers. In 2002 The Islamist Justice And Development Part (akp) Swept To Power In Turkey. Since Then It Has Shied Away From A Hard-line Ideological Stance In Favor Of A More Conservative And Democratic Approach. M. Hakan Yavuz, A Premier Scholar Of Turkey, Negotiates This Ambivalence, Asking Whether It Is Possible For A Political Party With A Deeply Religious Ideology To Liberalize And Entertain Democracy Or Whether, As He Contends, Radical Religious Groups Moderate Their Practices And Ideologies When Forced To Negotiate A Competitive And Rule-based Political System. While The Author Explores The Thesis Through An Analysis Of The Rise And Evolution Of The Akp And Its More Recent 2007 Election Victory, His Conclusion - That Everyday Political Realities Ultimately Override Ideology And Dogma - Can Be Comparatively Applied To Other Muslim Countries Facing Similar Challenges. The Book, Which Tackles A Number Of Important Issues Including Political Participation, Economics, Internal Security, The Kurdish Question, And Turkey's Bid To Enter The European Union, Provides A Masterful Survey Of Modern Turkish And Islamic Politics, Which Will Be Of Interest To A Broad Range Of Readers From Students To Professionals And Policymakers.--jacket. Introduction : What Is An Islamic Party; Is The Akp An Islamic Party? -- Historical And Ideological Background -- Political And Economic Origins Of The Akp : Opportunity Spaces And The Backlash Of February 28, 1997 -- Ideology, Leadership And Organization -- Kabadayı And Mağdur : Erdoğan And Gül -- Modes Of Secularism -- The Kurdish Question And The Akp -- The Political Crisis And The 2007 Elections -- Conclusion : The End Of Dual Sovereignty And The Creole Political Language. M. Hakan Yavuz. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 282-294) And Index. "In 2002 the Islamist Justice and Development Part (AKP) swept to power in Turkey. Since then it has shied away from a hard-line ideological stance in favor of a more conservative and democratic approach. M. Hakan Yavuz, a premier scholar of Turkey, negotiates this ambivalence, asking whether it is possible for a political party with a deeply religious ideology to liberalize and entertain democracy or whether, as he contends, radical religious groups moderate their practices and ideologies when forced to negotiate a competitive and rule-based political system. While the author explores the thesis through an analysis of the rise and evolution of the AKP and its more recent 2007 election victory, his conclusion - that everyday political realities ultimately override ideology and dogma - can be comparatively applied to other Muslim countries facing similar challenges. The book, which tackles a number of important issues including political participation, economics, internal security, the Kurdish question, and Turkey's bid to enter the European Union, provides a masterful survey of modern Turkish and Islamic politics, which will be of interest to a broad range of readers from students to professionals and policymakers."-- Jaquette In 2002 the Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) swept to power in Turkey. Since then it has shied away from a hard-line ideological stance in favor of a more conservative and democratic approach. M. Hakan Yavuz, a premier scholar of Turkey, negotiates this ambivalence, asking whether it is possible for a political party with a deeply religious ideology to liberalize and entertain democracy or whether, as he contends, radical religious groups moderate their practices and ideologies when forced to negotiate a competitive and rule-based political system. While the author explores the thesis through an analysis of the rise and evolution of the AKP and its more recent 2007 election victory, his conclusion - that everyday political realities ultimately override ideology and dogma - can be comparatively applied to other Muslim countries facing similar challenges. The book, which tackles a number of important issues including political participation, economics, internal security, the Kurdish question, and Turkey's bid to enter the European Union, provides a masterful survey of modern Turkish and Islamic politics, which will be of interest to a broad range of readers from students to professionals and policymakers Introduction: What is an Islamic and non-Islamic party? The socio-political context Political origins of the AKP Ideology, organization and parliamentary group of the AKP The two queen bees: Erdogan and Gul Modes of secularism The AKP and the Kurdish question Foreign policy-EU/Cyprus and USA/Iraq The crisis and the 2007 elections.