The pathologies of Turkish republican laicism

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0191453709358835

This article reveals the pathologies of the Turkish republican project of laicism by focusing on the differences between the ideas of Ziya Gokalp and the leading architects of this project. Ziya Gokalp reasoned within the logic of the empire and envisioned a synthesis among Turkism, westernism and Islam. The logic of the republic a la Turca, on the other hand, was shaped by a radical break from Islam. The distaste that the architects of the republican laicist project had developed towards Islam became apparent during the years between 1920 and 1925. Accordingly, the republican project of laicism nurtured a highly visible control of the state over religion rather than a separation between the affairs of the state and religion. This article also discusses the possibilities of reforming the republican project of laicism that is congenial with democratization processes in Turkey.