The Politics of Identities - The Foundations of Political Islam in Turkey

In "Politics of Identities," which investigates the reasons behind the recent development of Islamism in Turkey, two main propositions are argued: First, it is suggested that Islamism should not be seen as resistance against rapidly advancing globalization, but rather, on the contrary, as a means of adapting to the global order and achieving a more advantageous position within this order, an effort to establish a solidarity network aimed at achieving this. Second, it is argued that in this respect, Islamism is a product of the "postmodern condition" whose socio-political foundations lie in the globalization process, an example of the "politics of identities" whose influence has become widespread in this environment.

"The period beginning with the 1991 Gulf War and ending with the attack on the US on September 11, 2001, was a period of great historical opportunity for Islamism. This was a period when the voices of identity politics, which contained intense criticism of modernity and claimed authenticity, made themselves heard much more. In an age where everyone was pursuing authentic identities, who could be more authentic than Islamists?"

- Haldun Gülalp