The perception of secularism and state-religion relations in the national outlook (Millî Mörüş) Movement

This study maintainss that National Outlook Movement's religious discourse on foreign policy, education, economy and women's issues played an active role in the de-privatization and visibility of religion in the public sphare. Turkey's secularisation process dates back to the 17th century and continued in the aftermath of the declaration of the Republic (1923). The secularising policies implemented with the establishment of the Republic became a focal point of the discussions on religion-state ralations. The concept of laicity in Turkey, which was formed as a result of secularisation policies, was conceived differently from the European understanding of secularism and laicity. The National Outlook parties proposed policies that criticised Turkey's secularism policies. Jose Casanova put forward a unique theoretical approach about the de-privatization and visibility of religion in the public sphare. This thesis mainly focuses on National Outlook Movement's understanding of secularization based on religion-state relations developed in Europe from Casanova's point of view. This research concludes that the National Outlook Movement's religious discourses caused religion to become effective in public sphare.