Religion and politics in the modernization process in Turkey

The subject of this thesis is religion and politics in the modernization process that occurred in Turkey. Starting from the Ottoman period, the answer was sought to the questions how this relationship took place during especially the Republican period and and how it is today. When looking for answers to these questions, it has been explained who are involved in determining the relationship between religion and politics and how these sides understand the concepts of religion and modernity. Regarding the change in the relationship between religion and politics which factors play a role and the link between this change and the modernization process are also discussed. In the study, relation between religion and politics has been disclosed through the programs of the parties who have been ruling, or not ruling but effective in terms of politics, and through their practices in the field of religion and their attitudes towards the developments in the world. Furthermore, the attitudes and influence of Kemalist and Islamist politics, which are the two major politics in the formation of relationship between religion and politics in Turkey, in this process have also been discussed. The study was carried out by scanning information sources and interpreting the information obtained from the sources in question. As a result of the study, in the early years of the Republic, it was determined that religion was intended to be completely excluded from politics, however, this goal was not fully achieved, and after 1950, religion gradually entered politics again. It has been seen that along with the developments, the center-right parties and Islamist politics have been effective in the development of religion in politics and its effect on politics. As for the period after 2000, the result obtained is that in the face of the occurring developments both the Kemalist politics and the Islamic politics have lost power and in Turkey a new era started in the relationship between religion and politics. Key Words: modernization, religion, politics, Islamism, Kemalism.