The victory of the conservative AKP (Justice and Development Party) in November, 2002 elections has brought the issue of turban1 back on the agenda, so much so that the tension between Islamists and Kemalists has again increased. This controversial debate has divided the Turkish society into different camps. Secularists claim that the turban is a political symbol and has nothing to do with basic individual rights. Islamists, on the other hand, treat it mainly as an issue of religious freedom. The basic goal of this paper is to answer the question of whether deliberative democracy can contribute to creating a healthy dialogue between Islamists and Kemalists in Turkey. Special emphasis has been given to deliberative concepts such as social learning and mutual understanding, because they may enhance the possibility that an adequate atmosphere of dialogue can be created.
First, the theoretical framework will be discussed: After handling the general considerations of deliberative democracy, a more specific model of John Dryzek will be dealt with which analyses the decision making and social learning levels of deliberation separately. Then, Seyla Benhabibs work “Claims of Culture” (2002) will be examined. Benhabib focuses on the less restricted, informal phases of deliberation in her book. By focusing on Dryzek and Benhabib, this paper aims to establish an analytical framework that shows deliberation as an opinion formation process oriented to learning alongside the decision making process. The third chapter focuses on the headscarf debate in Turkey by considering its historical roots and legal framework. In the fourth chapter, a survey conducted in 2007 by the Konda Research Institute regarding the perceptions and practices of people in Turkey regarding religion, the headscarf and secularism will be presented. Next, some of the findings of the “Q survey” conducted by Bora Kanra will be discussed. It will be argued that the findings of these two studies will bolster the hopes for establishing a more healthy democratic culture in Turkey.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Theoretical Framework
- Preliminary Remarks on Deliberative Democracy
- Deliberative Democracy in Divided Societies: John Dryzek
- Social Learning Perspective: Seyla Benhabib
- The Headscarf Debate in Turkey
- Secularism and Political Islam- Historical Remarks
- Legal Framework
- Analysing the Headscarf Debate from a Deliberative Perspective: Is Social Learning Possible?
- Survey of Konda Research Institute: The Headscarf in Turkey
- Q Study on Islam, Secularism and Democracy
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to explore whether deliberative democracy can foster a constructive dialogue between Islamists and Kemalists in Turkey, particularly in the context of the contentious headscarf debate. The focus is on deliberative concepts like social learning and mutual understanding, crucial for creating a conducive environment for dialogue.
- Deliberative democracy as a framework for understanding and addressing societal divisions.
- Social learning and mutual understanding as key components of effective deliberation.
- The headscarf debate in Turkey as a case study for analysing deliberative democracy in practice.
- The role of public opinion surveys and research in informing the understanding of the headscarf debate.
- The potential for deliberative processes to contribute to a more healthy democratic culture in Turkey.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: Introduces the headscarf debate in Turkey as a point of tension between Islamists and Kemalists and outlines the paper's objective to assess the potential of deliberative democracy to facilitate dialogue. The introduction highlights the significance of social learning and mutual understanding in this context.
- Theoretical Framework: Provides an overview of deliberative democracy, exploring its key principles and its application in divided societies. The work of John Dryzek and Seyla Benhabib is examined to establish a framework for analyzing the headscarf debate.
- The Headscarf Debate in Turkey: This section delves into the historical and legal context of the headscarf debate in Turkey, exploring the relationship between secularism, political Islam, and the legal framework surrounding the issue.
- Analysing the Headscarf Debate from a Deliberative Perspective: Is Social Learning Possible?: This chapter examines the findings of two studies: the Konda Research Institute survey on headscarf perceptions and practices and the Q survey on Islam, secularism, and democracy. The analysis explores how these studies can inform the potential for social learning and a more inclusive democratic culture in Turkey.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper explores the concepts of deliberative democracy, social learning, and mutual understanding, focusing on their application to the headscarf debate in Turkey. Key terms and themes include secularism, political Islam, public opinion, democratic culture, and the potential for dialogue between opposing perspectives. The work draws upon relevant research, including the Konda Research Institute survey and the Q survey on Islam, secularism, and democracy, to inform the analysis of the headscarf debate.
- Quote paper
- Can Büyükbay (Author), 2009, Analysing the Headscarf Debate in Turkey from a Deliberative Perspective: Is Social Learning Possible? , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/143453
