A Secular State: The Turkish Dilemma

Abstract

Kamal Ata Turk played an important role in westernization of modern day Turkey. The process of replacing caliphate with a republic brought a great deal of success but unfortunately it all came at the cost of the weakening connection from the glorious Islamic past of the country. To attain such transformation reforms were carried out to terminate the religious inspiration in constitutional, cultural and public spheres. By introducing the laicism as the state’ philosophy, the republican elite established a secular way of life for Turkish nation. As a result of such repression of religion and religious practices modern Turkey has complex relations with Islam and with its own past. Today segments of the republic strongly support Ataturk’s ideology while others voice in favor of going back to society with more Islamic standards and stronger ties with Muslim world.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n5p180