Pdf state, law, civil society and islam in contemporary turkey. A reform movement is distinguished from more radical social movements such as revolutionary movements which reject those old ideals, in that the ideas are often grounded in liberalism, although they may be rooted in socialist specifically, social democratic. Such mechanisms, incorporated in different theoretical models. Religion, politics and the politics of religion in turkey core. The rise of public opinion in the ottoman empire 1839. Syracuse university press, jun 30, 2006 history 396 pages. Society is a web of social relationships and hence social change means change in the system of social relationships. In turkey, secularism has no social or historical basis. Causal explanations of social change are limited in scope, especially when the subject of study involves initial conditions or basic processes. Social change a society is characterized by the common attitudes and behavior of its members. One of the indirect ways in which the mahalle ethos was devalued was that a new focus for the citizens allegiance, societyj. There is an increasing interest in the social role of religion because of continuing influence of the sacred in contemporary society.
The developments regarding turkey s religion society relations in the last decades. The course explores questions about religion and social change in domestic and international contexts. Under the leadership of mustafa kemal ataturk, turkey underwent drastic economic, political, and social changes between 1920 and 1930 that aimed to modernize turkish society and remove the power of religion from state institutions. We live in an interdependent world and need to pay closer attention to the challenges and opportunities of social changes at the global level which may influence relations between religion, state and society. I argue that although the religious market model might not be applicable to the turkish religious.
The rise of public opinion in the ottoman empire 18391909 volume 30 bedri gencer. Then there is the huge impact of globalization on all of these processes from consumption to culture, from politics to social and religious movements. Jan 23, 2018 turkey was established in 1923 after the fall of the ottoman empire as a secular democratic state. Religion and social change in modern turkey suny press. He is the author of the genesis of young ottoman thought also published by syracuse university press, religion and social change in modern turkey, and editor of cultural transition in the middle east. Social change refers to the transformation of culture, behavior, social institutions, and social structure over time. Jul 20, 2010 religion and state in contemporary turkey. Islam is the largest religion in turkey according to the state, with 99. Serif mardin, religion and social change in modern turkey the. This book gives an overview and interpretation of the religions and cultures of early modern europe.
In the first part of the class, until the midterm exam, we will explore the extent to which religion has facilitated the emergence of capitalism, the formation of the nationstate, and. Working on religion, politics, and politics of religion anywhere involves examining the various parties of the state, society, and the individuals in the political body of a given country. Religion and social change in modern turkey the case of bediuzzaman said nursi. A more general and theoretical way of explaining social change is to construct a model of recurring mechanisms of social change. In secularized societies faith lacks cultural authority, religious organizations have little social power, and public life proceeds without reference to the supernatural. This book details the most recent change, locating it in its broader historical setting. Religious pluralism and religionstate relations in turkey. The most difficult change in any society is probably a language reform. Such behavior reflects purposive decision making by individuals, given the environment they live in. There were big changes in social norms during the 20th century, especially in sexual mores. These include the triple gems of jainism, islams sharia, catholicisms canon law, buddhisms eightfold path, and zoroastrianisms good thoughts, good words, and good. Religion and secularism in turkey serif mardin few categorical assertions can be made in the social sciences, but certainly one of them is that social thought never starts with a clean slate.
The case of bediuzzaman said nursi suny series in near eastern studies albany. In the preindustrial societies of early modern europe, religion was a vessel of fundamental importance in making sense of personal and collective social, cultural, and spiritual exercises. Many quantify religions have value frameworks regarding personal behavior meant to guide adherents in determining between right and wrong. Religion and change in modern britain 1st edition linda. Dec 16, 2020 in particular, durkheim thought of the closeknit interactions between families and small communities, groups of people who share a common religion, who may eat together, work together, and spend leisure time together. Religion in turkey has played a significant role in the countrys arts, literature, architecture, attractions, and everyday life for centuries. Muslims in south asia, meanwhile, are less likely to say modern life and religious devotion are compatible median of 39%. Yet all around him, durkheim observed evidence of rapid social change and the withering away of these groups. Eric ej168586 religion in modern turkey, international. Though it isnt the oldest religion in the country, islam is a significant contributor to this bold blend. Mardin moves easily from sociological topics on violence and classconsciousness to the history of the ottoman empire, and the philosophy and culture of modern turkey within the greater middle east.
Religion and social change unit 3 sociologysaviour. Turkey succeeds in managing religious diversity because the perception of islam has developed in connection with a variety of current and historical events. This is due to several major dimensions of turkish foreign policy. She is coeditor of religions in the modern world 2nd edition, routledge 2009, coauthor of a sociology of religious emotion oup 2010 and the spiritual revolution blackwell 2005, and author of an introduction to christianity cup 2004. Beginning with the justice and development partys rule from late 2002, supported by a broad informal coalition that included liberals, the book shows how the. Mar 20, 2012 linda woodhead mbe is professor of sociology of religion at lancaster university, uk and director of the religion and society research programme. Religion, politics and the politics of religion in turkey. Jan 01, 1989 this book collects serif mardins seminal essays written throughout the span of his prolific career.
Thus, as technology changes, so might social norms. Hakan yavuzs islamic political identity in turkey yavuz 2003 focuses on the time of ozals promarket policy and change of the position ascribed to religion in politics and society after 1983. Developments in this era had immediate impact on these societies, many of which resonate to the present day. The perception that emerged in the course of turkish cultural and political history provides strong grounds for peaceful coexistence within the shared social order. I assert that, as a states approach to religion, the laicismsecularism distinction is significant. Comprising some of the authors finest and most incisive writings, these essays deal with the historical background, political travails, and socioeconomic metamorphosis of turkey during a century of modernization. Religion, society, and modernity in turkey serif mardin. The case of bediuzzaman said nursi recep senturk kitab.
Last but not least, the management of religion in turkey also has an impact on turkey s democracy, human rights, equality and. For an authoritative monograph on said nursi, see serif mardin, religion and social change in modern turkey. This chapter is primarily concerned with a power struggle that has been taking place within turkey over the last twohundred years, but in particular with the last eighty years of this struggle. Mardin, serif, religion and social change in modern turkey. These include a giving meaning and purpose to life, b reinforcing social unity and stability, c serving as an agent of social control of behavior, d promoting physical and psychological wellbeing, and e motivating people to work for positive social change. Under ataturks leadership, turkey undertook the modern worlds swiftest and most extensive language reform. The contributions of social innovators, therefore, become fully meaningful only. These influential piecescollected for the first time in one volumerepresent an invaluable addition to the field of middle east studies. Turkey has undergone a series of upheavals in its political regime from the mid19th century. Turkey is a country with special characteristics regarding debates about the religious upsurge, the role of religion in society, and secularism.
Religion, society and politics in a changing turkey sabanci. The turkish economic, political, legal, and educational institutions began to change in a way which involved basic social values for the first time. The promoters of reform in this period of about twenty years had, above all, to meet the economic challenge of the west in such a way as to insure progress. Google scholar for the nurcular, see mardin, religion and social change. Turkey s long experiment with secularism dates back to the last years of the ottoman empire. This is the best work i have seen on islam and social change in a decade. This characteristic has helped form quite a unique society, one built upon juxtaposed ideasantiquity and modernity, east and west, secularism and religion. In the future, references to the need for change and to the way that religion was an l religion and secularism in turkey obstruction to progress was to become a leitmotif in atatiirks writings. In the modern world we are aware that society is never static, and that social, political, economic and cultural changes. The case of bediuzzaman said nursi suny series in north eastern studies suny series in near eastern studies mardin, serif on. Morality and religion involves the relationship between religious views and morals. As a result, turkey is one of the most westernized majoritymuslim nations.
Jul 01, 1989 religion and social change in modern turkey. A great immigration to urban areas which surmounts of all possible urban services and commencement of imam. This ambitious general theory of social change has since become perhaps the most criticized body of work in the whole of social science. This change of the government was another turning point in the history of social change in turkey, through giving start to two main essential sociocultural and economic processes which are shaping turkey of the twentyfirst century. Religious factors are analyzed in terms of three connected yet distinct categories. Secularization captures a longterm societal change, but it has conse. Social change social change mechanisms of social change. Mar 19, 20 despite its large muslim population and countless mosques, turkey is actually secular. In looking at all of these societies, we have seen how they differ in. The term social change is used to indicate the changes that take place in human interactions and interrelations. Jun 30, 2006 religion, society, and modernity in turkey. In the traditional system, initiation into the world of knowledge through the guidance of a mentor was central. Religious pluralism and religionstate relations in turkey mdpi.
During the whole republican era since 1923, friction has been increasing between two groups within turkish society that may roughly be defined as laicists 1. Religion and culture in early modern europe, 15001800. International social science journal, 29, 2, 27997, 77 presents a brief historical and contemporary perspective of the functions of religious institutions in turkish society. Political, legal, religious, cultural, social, and economic policy changes were designed to convert the new republic of turkey into a secular, modern nationstate. The devaluation of the mahalle was a cumulative process religion and secularism in turkey 215 in which the rise of new ways of thinking about society also had a parr. This book collects serif mardins seminal essays written throughout the span of his prolific career. Apr 25, 2019 in turkey today, the definitions of secularism and the relationship between government, religion, and the public sphere are all in flux. I propose that there is a growing trend in the religious sphere that has resulted in a proliferation of religions, sects and spiritual approaches in turkey. A dynamic process of interaction between domestic and international politics has affected religion state relations in turkey, particularly since the earlytomid1990s. Across the 23 countries where the question was asked, most muslims see no inherent conflict between religion and science. For more details, see religion and modernity in chapter 7. The case of bediuzzaman said nursi suny series in north eastern studies suny series in near eastern.
Religion, politics, and the politics of religion in turkey. Said amir arjomand the book offers a sympathetic account of a phenomenon of extreme importance for gaining an insight into modern islamic movements, not only in turkey, but also in much of the rest of the islamic world. The established presence of islam in the region that now constitutes modern turkey dates back to the latter half of the 11th century, when the seljuks started expanding into eastern anatolia. We are familiar from chapter 5 social structure and social interaction with the basic types of society. In the modern world we are aware that society is never static, and that social, political, economic and cultural changes occur constantly. Last but not least, the management of religion in turkey also has an impact on turkey s democracy, human rights, equality and good governance. In his view, any coherent society must be at base a religious collectivity. The sacred defines the world of reality, which is the basis for all meaningful forms and behaviours in the society. These changes were implemented under the leadership of mustafa kemal ataturk. Social change as modernization by the 1950s, social scientists had gone a long way towards formalizing these ideas.
Majoritymuslim turkey becomes less religious, poll says despite a rise in religious doctrine from the government, a recent survey shows a dip in the portion of people identifying as religious. Thus, both with the internal dynamics and changing paradigms in the world, i. The case of bediuzzaman said nursi, albany, state university of new york press, 1989, 226 p. Religion and social change secularism, religion, and the. Medieval theology and modern politics yale university press. Religion, society and modernity in turkey by serif mardin. Social change mechanisms of social change britannica. Culturally, as in so many other respects, turkey sits between east and west, drawing elements from both to produce its own unique blend. Serif mardin, religion and social change in modern turkey.
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