Paper Summary:

This paper attempts to explain the use and implementation of human rights and the EU discourse amongst Islamist political parties and how this change is directly related with the Kemalist establishment of Turkey and domestic policies. It also argues that the rising visibility of Islam in society and politics is interlinked with democratization in Turkey and is a vital departure from the traditional secularism.

Outline:
1. Introduction
2. Historical Framework
2.1. Kemalism and Turkish Modernization Project
2.2. Secularism - Freedom from Religion
2.2. A. The Role of the Presidency of Religious Affairs
2.3. The Headscarf Issue
2.4. The Imam-Hatip Schools
2.5. The Military-The Guardian of Secularism
3. Political Islamist Parties
3.1. 1980 Military Coup and De-Politicization of the Society through Islam
3.2. Welfare Party
3.2. A. RP and Human Rights
3.3. February 28 Process
4. The Change in Milli Goru
4.1. The Effects of February 28 on Milli Goru Hareketi
4.2. Virtue Party (Fazilet)
4.3. Felicity Party (Saadet)
4.3. A. Human Rights Approach of Sp
4.3. B. The Return to Anti-EU Discourse
5. Justice and Development Party
5.1. The Party Program
5.2. After 2002 Elections
5.3. The Reform Process
5.3. A. The Headscarf and the IHLS
5.4. 2007 General Elections and the Election of the President

From the Paper:

"The Turkish Modernization project based on Westernization, Secularism and Kemalism constitutes the base of current socio-political crisis of nation-state in Turkey. The Westernization project in Turkey began two centuries ago, when Ottomans introduced reforms in military, education and social life. From the establishment of Turkey a modern Westernization project was intensified and Islam was excluded from the legitimate centers of political and intellectual activities by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and the military-bureaucratic elite. The project aimed putting Islam in the private sphere and making it invisible in the public sphere. The Kemalist elite presented themselves as secular, progressive and in opposition to Islam. Turkey's perception of the West resulted in the exclusion of Islamists and marginalized them in social, political and intellectual representation. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• - A. Carkoglu & B. Rubin (eds.), (2006), Religion and Politics in Turkey, Routledge: New York
• - A. Carkoglu & B. Toprak, (2006), Religion, Society and Politics in Changing Turkey , Ankara: Tesev Yay nlar
• - A. T. Kuru, (2005 ), "Globalization and Diversification of Islamic Movements: Three Turkish Cases," Political Science Quarterly, Vol. 120, pp.253-274
• - A. T. Kuru, (2006), "Reinterpretation of Secularism in Turkey: The Case of the Justice and Development Party" in The Emergence of a New Turkey: Islam, Democracy, and the AK Parti (ed. by M. Hakan Yavuz), Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press
• - B. Kanra, "Democracy, Islam and Dialogue: The Case of Turkey", in Government and Opposition, (2005), Vol. 40(4), pp. 515-539

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