Islamic activism in Turkey since the 1980 military takeover

Abstract

This article examines the nature and strength of the Islamic movement in contemporary Turkey. It argues that the policies of the military and civilian governments, in attempting to establish a strong ideological base that could challenge the left, allowed and even promoted the activities of Turkey's Islamic organizations. Indeed, these counter‐balancing efforts backfired as the Islamic movement rejected the national cause and joined the struggle for social justice.‐As a result, and in direct contradiction to the intentions of the military and civilian governments, there evolved an ideological alliance between Islamic circles and the left. This ideological shift along with the collapse of ideological alternatives and a background of intensifying socio‐economic problems contributed heavily to the Islamic movement's electoral success in recent years.