The Türk-İslamic synthesis as a conservatisation project

Conservatism is one of the key concepts in understanding of the Turkish society. As a concept, conservatism has been one of the most crucial dynamics in social, cultural and political life in the historical process. Ottomanism, Islamism ve Turkism as political and intellectual movements during the late Ottoman period effected the intellectual heritage of conservatism in Turkey.Conservatism has expanded, changed and become a force that could eventually transform political domain in Turkey. When Democrat Party came to power in 1950, it made use of primary traditional, religious, moral values of periphery. This was a turning point in the rihgt-wing conservatism as an important political actor in Turkey. From 1950 on, rising religious-nationalist conservatism left mark upon the political domain. In this period nationalist-conservative intellectuals have organized around Intellectuals Club (Aydınlar Ocağı) and these intellectuals have become pioneers of Turk-Islam synthesis.Thereafter 1980 military intervention, Turk-Islam synthesis articulated in the State?s official ideology. In the articulation process, the effect of Turk-Islam synthesis is clearly seen as an ideological state apparatus particularly in national education institutions and in secondary school textbooks. In this context, Turk-Islam synthesis functions as a conservatisation project. Both low income groups? embracement of conservative values and the State led conservatist project have played important roles in prevailing of the nationalist-conservative thought in Turkey.