The AKP and Political Transformation of Turkey


Abstract
The accession of the AKP to the power, by gaining 34. 4 % of the vote and 365 seats marked the beginning of a new era in the Turkish politics. For the first time in the contemporary Turkish politics a pro-Islamic party could govern alone with the old-fashioned Kemalist party Republican People’s Party (CHP) in opposition. In its serious attempt to restructure Turkish politics, AKP kept the Turkish military one of the most important Kemalist bastions in Turkey at a bay. The Turkish military has traditionally been against falling political power in pro-Islamic parties’ hands. So the new scenario raised some question about its secular credentials within some Kemalist and foreign circles alike. A fear of radical changes that may compromise the secular character of the State emerged from different corners. Thus this paper would focus on the evolution of Turkey as a modern nation state. It is necessary to have a glimpse of the history of Turkey as it would make us understand the Turkish policies and postures whether in the domestic or foreign affairs. It would try to analyze that how much contemporary Turkey has been transformed than that visualized by Kemal Ataturk, founder of the republic. As per his vision, Islam and politics were anathema, both cannot go together. However, in today’s Turkey, Islam has become the dominant discourse in the politics. This paper scrutiny and explain the factors which brought about such significant changes in Turkey.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Imam al-Ghazali: The Original Philosopher

Introduction Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad, abu Hamid al - Tusi al Ghazali al Shafi (450-505), the great venerable philosopher not only in the history of Muslim philosophy but also in the human thought. It is amazing to note that imam is known in Islamic surface the proof of Islam ( Hujjat al -Islam) ornament o the faith, gatherer of the multifarious sciences, great Siddiq absolute mujtahid , he considered a mujaddid and reckoned on a par with the four imams. Imam Ghazali was expert of in the principles doctrine and those of jurisprudence. Shaykh Yusuful Qaradawi remarks that, like Umar ibn Abdul Aziz and al Shafi for their respective times, al - Ghazali is unanimously considered the renewer of the fifth Islamic century. Life and Education Imam Ghazali was born in Khurasan in 450/1048. He received thorough education in Quranic exegesis, Hadith , fiqh and kalam . His teachers were the celebrated scholars at that time. Ahmad ibn Muhammad al - Rad
Read more

ILM al-KALAM : THE JABARITIES AND QADIRITIES

The Jabarities It is the group of Jahm ibn Safwan and his adherents. He was advocate of pure determinism. Due to his thought he was put to death by Salim ibn Ahwas al-Mazini in Marw in the last days of the Umayyads. Jabr is a doctrine which denies that a deed is in reality to be attributed to man, as ascribes it to god. There are two main groups of jabarities. 1) The pure Jabarities who do not allow any deed at all to man, not even the power to act. 2) The moderate Jabarities who admit that man has power but maintain that it is a power which is in no way effective. Jahm ibn Jafwan agreed with the Mu’tazilities in denying the eternal attributes, but he also added other doctrines 1) It is not lawful to apply to god an attribute which is also applicable to creatures, because this would imply likeness between god and creatures, he, therefore denies that god is living and knowing, but maintains that he is powerful, an agent and a creator because to creature cannot b
Read more

SHAH WALIULLAH AL-DEHLAWI : THOUGHTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

Necessity of the reformation is when the downfall happens in the course of time and place. But the reformation is not meant to bring something new. Their responsibility is bringing the community back to proper and strong path. The deviation of Muslim Ummah , formidable challenges that they face and necessity of the time are the main the reasons of the presence of the reformers. They will be the guiding lights of the community. The history is big eyewitness of the presence of the reformers. The verdict of holy prophet Muhammad ( PUBH ) about the reformers ( mujaddids ) has been happening. Shah Wali Ullah Qutb al -din Ahmad known as Shah Wali Ullah was born in 1114/1703 four years before the death of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb .His genealogy can be traced back to the family of pious K halifah of Islam Umarul Faruq .The forefathers of Shah wali Ullah are said to have migrated to India and found their settlement here at Rohtak village, when the Tatars started the destr
Read more