State, Islam, and religious liberty in modern Turkey: Reconfiguration of religion in the public sphere

Not only from a geopolitical point of view but also from cultural and religious points of view, Turkey lies at the crossroads between Eastern and Western interests. The establishment of a modern Turkey based on Western political models was a watershed in Turkey's history as an Islamic empire. Nevertheless, modern Turkey continues to struggle to find an appropriate balance between religion and secularism in a nation that is almost entirely Muslim. This paper provides a historical overview of religion's role in the public life of Turkey, and then looks at the role of religion in Turkey's current political situation. It concludes that while it is still progressing towards finding an ideal balance between religion and politics, Turkey shows how Islam and modern democracy can peacefully coexist.