2018/03/02 by Ahmet Erdi Öztürk, Semiha Sözeri · 1 citation
Social Sciences · #Turkey's Politics and Society #Religion and Society Interactions #Political Conflict and Governance
paper · doi:10.1017/s175504831700075x
openalex publication_date 2018/03/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02
Abstract How does Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs ( Diyanet ) act as an instrument of foreign policy (FP)? What are the factors that allow such an instrumentalization of Islam in Turkish FP? In addressing these questions, this paper uses semi-structured expert interviews from Bulgaria and the Netherlands. Although both countries host a sizeable Muslim minority, these populations differ in their characteristics and historical ties with Turkey. Comparing Diyanet ’s role in the Netherlands with its recent Turkish-Muslim diaspora, and in Bulgaria with its centuries-old Muslim minority allows us to reveal variation in the practical engagement strategies that Diyanet adopts in different country contexts. Thus, this paper advances two main claims; first, Diyanet serves as a primary FP tool of Turkey in countries with a significant Turkish-Muslim minority. Secondly, this instrumentalization destabilizes secularization projects both at home and abroad.