One nation under Allah? Islamic multiculturalism, Muslim nationalism and Turkey's reforms for Kurds, Alevis, and non-Muslims

• Published in: Turkish studies Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 523 - 551
• Main Author: Aktürk, Şener
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 08-08-2018; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Alevis; Armenians; Concept formation; Erdogan, Recep Tayyip; Intellectuals; Islam; Islamic multiculturalism; Justice; Kurdish people; Kurds; minorities in Turkey; Minority groups; Motivation; Multiculturalism & pluralism; Muslim nationalism; Muslims; National identity; Nationalism; Political leadership; Reforms; Religious leaders; Speeches; Turkey
• ISSN: 1468-3849; 1743-9663
• DOI: 10.1080/14683849.2018.1434775

A number of reforms and initiatives, undertaken by the Justice and Development Party (AKP or AK Party) governments in Turkey, widely known as Kurdish and Alevi 'openings,' and the less prominent non-Muslim (primarily Armenian and Jewish) openings, have puzzled scholars as to their causes, consequences, and limitations. In this article, I first briefly review four different kinds of analytical accounts that seek to explain the AK Party's openings. Second, I introduce my argument that an Islamic conceptualization of a new religious-national identity is both the main motivation and the main limitation of these reformist initiatives. Third, I provide an analysis of critical speeches, official statements, and declarations by AK Party leaders, in particular by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, on the Kurdish, Alevi, and non-Muslim openings, demonstrating that they invoke overwhelmingly religious justifications.