Can Secularism Hinder Democracy? The Turkish Experiment

The concept of democracy that has gained importance since the end of the Second World War and the relation between state and religion in Turkey have attracted a considerable degree of interest in various academic circles. It is known that in democratic systems, equality before the law and equality o...

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Main Author: Begüm Burak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: İlmi Etüdler Derneği (İLEM) 2012-12-01
Series:İnsan & Toplum
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.insanvetoplum.org/index.php/IVT/article/view/114/122
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author Begüm Burak
author_facet Begüm Burak
author_sort Begüm Burak
collection DOAJ
description The concept of democracy that has gained importance since the end of the Second World War and the relation between state and religion in Turkey have attracted a considerable degree of interest in various academic circles. It is known that in democratic systems, equality before the law and equality of opportunities for all individuals are regarded as integral elements. In this context, although it may be argued that many states that have a secular system are actually democratic in terms of their non-intervention in the religious choices of its citizens, it is also known that there is another interpretation of secularism in which the state exercises control over religion. The Turkish case represents a unique example in the study of the relationship between secularism and democracy with regard to the dominant role of the state in religious affairs. This study will attempt to analyze the negative impact of the state’s interpretation of secularism on democracy in Turkey.
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spelling doaj-art-531c2c266e8946d28023032bf1f73e8e2025-08-20T03:18:06Zengİlmi Etüdler Derneği (İLEM)İnsan & Toplum2146-70992012-12-01246582http://dx.doi.org/10.12658/human.society.2.4.M0015Can Secularism Hinder Democracy? The Turkish ExperimentBegüm BurakThe concept of democracy that has gained importance since the end of the Second World War and the relation between state and religion in Turkey have attracted a considerable degree of interest in various academic circles. It is known that in democratic systems, equality before the law and equality of opportunities for all individuals are regarded as integral elements. In this context, although it may be argued that many states that have a secular system are actually democratic in terms of their non-intervention in the religious choices of its citizens, it is also known that there is another interpretation of secularism in which the state exercises control over religion. The Turkish case represents a unique example in the study of the relationship between secularism and democracy with regard to the dominant role of the state in religious affairs. This study will attempt to analyze the negative impact of the state’s interpretation of secularism on democracy in Turkey.http://www.insanvetoplum.org/index.php/IVT/article/view/114/122TurkeyModernizationSecularismLaicismDemocracyKemalist Elitism
spellingShingle Begüm Burak
Can Secularism Hinder Democracy? The Turkish Experiment
İnsan & Toplum
Turkey
Modernization
Secularism
Laicism
Democracy
Kemalist Elitism
title Can Secularism Hinder Democracy? The Turkish Experiment
title_full Can Secularism Hinder Democracy? The Turkish Experiment
title_fullStr Can Secularism Hinder Democracy? The Turkish Experiment
title_full_unstemmed Can Secularism Hinder Democracy? The Turkish Experiment
title_short Can Secularism Hinder Democracy? The Turkish Experiment
title_sort can secularism hinder democracy the turkish experiment
topic Turkey
Modernization
Secularism
Laicism
Democracy
Kemalist Elitism
url http://www.insanvetoplum.org/index.php/IVT/article/view/114/122
work_keys_str_mv AT begumburak cansecularismhinderdemocracytheturkishexperiment