Religious versus Secular Groups in the Age of Globalisation in Turkey

Abstract

During the post‐1980 period, the rise of the Justice and Development Party to power in 2002, increasing visibility of Islamic symbols like the use of the headscarf in the cultural field and the growth of Islamic businesses and markets in the economic field, have all caused anxiety among secular groups in Turkey, concerned that it will lose its economic and social status. This resentment has led to a fierce struggle among secular and religious groups both at state and societal levels. Therefore, during the post‐1980 period the struggle between religious and secular actors in Turkey has turned into a struggle between two rival middle classes. This article examines the influence of globalisation on both religious and secular groups and concludes that the Islamic middle class has benefited from globalisation to increase its influence in the social, economic and political realms. However, upon the growing visibility of Islamic actors, the secular middle class feel that they will lose their secular lifestyle so they have tried to demonstrate their determination to defend it.