Turkey's Political Tension: Secularism, Islam, and Nationalism

Summary

In this compelling episode, we sit down with a Dr. S. Ayse Kadayifci-Orellana whose deep personal and scholarly ties to Turkey illuminate one of the most significant political transformations of the last century. Together, we trace Turkey’s journey from the final years of the Ottoman Empire to the creation of a modern, secular republic—and then to the rise of a powerful religious-nationalist project under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The conversation begins with a historical grounding in the Ottoman Empire’s governance, its relationship to Islam, and the profound rupture brought by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s reforms. We explore the architecture of Turkish secularism, how it was enforced, and why it became both a source of national pride and cultural tension.

From there, the guest unpacks the emergence of political Islam in the late 20th century, the AKP’s ascent, and Erdoğan’s evolution from reformist mayor to dominant executive. We examine how religion gradually moved from the margins into the center of statecraft, reshaping institutions, education, media, and public life. A major focus is the 2016 coup attempt—its shockwaves, contested narratives, and how it became the pivotal moment that cemented Erdoğan’s near-total control.

The episode also highlights the diversity and resilience of Turkish civil society. Women’s movements, humor-driven protest cultures, and grassroots organizing offer alternative visions of democracy and resistance amid growing authoritarianism. Finally, we draw resonant parallels between Turkey’s trajectory and political shifts inside the United States, identifying global patterns of illiberalism, democratic backsliding, and creative forms of opposition.

A rich, textured, and timely discussion for anyone seeking to understand the intersections of history, religion, nationalism, and democratic struggle.

Kadayifci, Ayse. “Muslim Women’s Peace Initiatives” in Women, Religion and Peacebuilding: Illuminating the Unseen Susan Hayward and Katherine Marshall eds. USIP press (2015)

Dr. S. Ayse Kadayifci-Orellana is Associate Professor at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and Gender Peace and Security Advisor at Georgetown Institute of Women, Peace and Security. Before coming to Georgetown University she served as a consultant for the Religion and Peacebuilding Program at United States Institute of Peace. Her research focuses on Muslim women’s peacebuilding initiatives, mediation and peace building, religion and conflict resolution, interfaith dialogue, Islamic approaches to war and peace, and Islam and nonviolence.