Turkish secularism and challenges of transformation

Abstract

This study aims to identify the type of secularism coloring state-religion relations in Turkey since its foundation, and to reveal the challenges, namely Islamism surrounding the transformation of Turkish secularism through dynamic interactions of political actors and secular state institutions in the twenty-first century. The rise of Islamism in Turkish politics undermined radical credentials of Turkish secularism, but challenged its transformation to a liberal one. It concludes that due to the lack of secular establishment in executive and institutional power, particularly after transition to presidential republic, Turkish secularism is now in crisis. © 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.