Political Islam In Turkey

Turkey is often described as the only secular, Muslim country in the world. Yet the Turkish brand of secularism was imposed from above by a Western-oriented elite in the 1920s and 1930s. Recently, it has come under increasing pressure as urbanization and democratization have brought conservative values into the political mainstream. This book analyzes the relationship between politics and Islam from Ottoman times through to the re-election of the Justice and Development Party in July 2007, and examines the repercussions of the re-emergence of Turkey's Islamic identity both for the country itself and for its relations with Europe, the United States, and the Middle East.

About the Author:
Gareth Jenkins is a writer and journalist who has been based in Istanbul since 1989