The rise of Islamism in Turkey : failure of Kamalism or a new development alternative?

Abstract

This thesis examines the rise of Islamism in Turkey over the last three decades. It explores the increasing role of Islamism in Turkey in society and politics in detail in the context of the religion and development. Moreover, it investigates if and to what extent the Kemalist socio-economic and political development is related to the rise of Islamism in Turkey. The thesis attempts to explain the varied characteristics of Islamism in Turkey and interrogates the circumstances that make judgments on the implications of Islamism to development in Turkey extremely complex. Is the increasing influence of Islamism a reflection of socio-political failure of Kemalism or is it an alternative form of development? This is the question examined in the thesis.