The Post-Imperial Turkish State and Islam, 1923-1950

A Complicated Relationship

BESTAMI S. BILGIÇ (Author) , Tuba Ünlü Bilgiç (Author)

The Post-Imperial Turkish State and Islam, 1923-1950

A Complicated Relationship

BESTAMI S. BILGIÇ (Author) , Tuba Ünlü Bilgiç (Author)

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Description

The period between 1923-1950 is seen as the golden age of secularism in the Turkish Republic, but how true is this? The Post-Imperial Turkish State and Islam, 1923-1950 revisits the relationship between the state and Islam in Turkey during this period, arguing that it was shaped and complicated by a post-imperial trauma that manifested in almost all parts of political and social life.

Using extensive Turkish and English language government documents, the authors argue that this was neither a golden age for secularism, nor a dark age for Islam in Turkey. Instead, they reveal how the Turkish government's relationship with Islam was shaped by three processes of negotiation. First, the 'Lausanne negotiation' between Turkey and the victorious powers of the First World War, second between the Kemalist government and both its dissenters and the largely conservative Turkish society, and third, amongst the Kemalist themselves. Through these negotiations, the authors reveal the intricate and complex relationship between state and religion in post-imperial Turkey, contributing fascinating new insights to the established literature on this subject.

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Introduction
Part I: Security
Lausanne Civil Law Constitution Attire Education Part II: Opposition
Caliph Convent Part III: Reform
Diyanet Higher Education Conclusion

Product details

Published	Aug 06 2026
Format	Ebook (PDF)
Edition	1st
Pages	176
ISBN	9798216264286
Imprint	Bloomsbury Academic
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing

Author

BESTAMI S. BILGIÇ

Bestami S. Bilgiç teaches at the Department of Rel…

TÜ

Author

Tuba Ünlü Bilgiç

Tuba Ünlü Bilgiç is an associate professor of Inte…

This book offers a nuanced re-examination of the relationship between Islam and the Turkish state during the formative years of the Turkish Republic (1923–1950). Moving beyond polarized portrayals of the era as either the “golden age” of secularism or a “dark age” of religion, the study highlights the complexity and dynamism of early republican reforms. Drawing on extensive historical evidence, it demonstrates how policies toward Islam were shaped not only by secular ideals, but also by political realities, social negotiation, and evolving national priorities. By revealing the continued interaction between religion and the state during this transformative period, the book provides a richer and more balanced understanding of modern Turkish history.

M. Hakan Yavuz, Professor of the School of Public Affairs, University of Utah, USA