Birol Başkan
Biographic Data
| ID | 379603 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Birol Başkan |
| GIVEN NAMES | Birol |
| FAMILY NAME | Başkan |
| SIGNATURE | BAŞKAN B |
| AFFILIATIONS | Georgetown University in Qatar |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-3542-9814 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 16 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 44 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 15 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2010 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2021 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Islam, Authoritarianism, and Underdevelopment
“Why are Muslim-majority countries less peaceful, less democratic, less developed?” This is the question Ahmet Kuru poses and seeks to answer in his Islam, Authoritarianism, and Underdevelopment. Kuru's quite elaborate and complex causal explanation can be summarized as follows:The Muslim world was once unlike what it is today: specifically, between the eighth and twelfth centuries, it accommodated an ethnically and religiously pluralistic societ…
Making Sense of Turkey’s Reaction to the Qatar Crisis
When the Qatar crisis erupted in June 2017, Turkey quickly sided with Qatar, sending tons of food supplies and deploying troops in the Emirate. Yet, from a purely geopolitical and economic perspective, Turkey would have been expected not to take sides given its much larger trade relations with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and their political clout in the region and beyond. It seems that the path dependence in bilateral relations bet…
Islamism and Turkey's foreign policy during the Arab Spring
The Arab Spring truly caught Turkey by surprise. In interpreting what was happening in the region, Turkey's foreign policy-makers relied on a particular view, which helped steer Turkey's foreign policy in the ensuing regional earthquake. This article seeks to dissect that view and deconstructs its main components mainly through the speeches of Ahmet Davutoğlu, who served as Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs during the heyday of the Arab Spring…
Turkey and Qatar in the Tangled Geopolitics of the Middle East
This book narrates how Turkey and Qatar have come to forge a mutually special relationship. The book argues that throughout the 2000s Turkey and Qatar had pursued similar foreign policies and aligned
Making Sense of Turkey's Foreign Policy: Clashing Identities and Interests
Turkey's Islamists: Accidental Democrats
When it was founded in 2001, the current ruling party in Turkey, the Justice and Development Party (JDP), unequivocally declared its commitment to democracy and secularism (JDP 2014). Nevertheless, the party's implementation of reforms aimed at strengthening Turkey's democracy after coming to power in 2002 surprised many observers because the JDP's top leaders had been known Islamists. The speed and dedication with which the government introduced…
Discourse and oppositionality in the Arab Spring: The case of the Muslim Brotherhood in the UAE
Theorizing the nature and possibility of political opposition in the Arab Gulf states after the ‘Arab Spring’ has largely focused on the state’s capacity to dispense economic patronage to defuse any oppositional formation. Citing the lack of critical popular and public mobilization, many opted to focus only on the ‘resilience’ of the state, re-emphasizing the often-touted view of ‘Gulf exceptionalism’ under the rentier state social contract. With…
State-Society Relations in the Arab Gulf States
This book examines the strategies and dynamics through which state-society relations in the Arab Gulf region have been cultivated, and explores the alternative political, social, economic and popular changes that threaten these relations. The work focuses on understanding how state sovereignty has been shifting to accommodate internal social, cultural, and intellectual forces and how these forces have managed to balance social and political power…
Bilim felsefesi ışığında iktisat metodolojisi
İlk sayısını Haziran 2011'de çıkaran İnsan & Toplum Dergisi, yılda iki kez yayımlanan, hem Türkçe hem de İngilizce yazılara yer veren hakemli bir dergidir. İnsan & Toplum, akademik yayın dünyasında görülen iki temel eksikliği duyumsayarak yola çıktı. Bunlardan biri, kendi disipliner sınırlarına hapsolmuş akademyanın insan ve toplumu birbirinden izole ederek ayrıştırarak çalışma yapmasının bir teamül haline gelmiş olmasıdır. İkincisi de, disiplinl…
From Religious Empires to Secular States: State Secularization in Turkey, Iran, and Russia
In the 1920s and the 1930s, Turkey, Iran and Russia vehemently pursued state-secularizing reforms, but adopted different strategies in doing so. But why do states follow different secularizing strategies? The literature has already shattered the illusion that secularization of the state has been a unilinear, homogeneous and universal process, and has convincingly shown that secularization of the state has unfolded along different paths. Much, how…
From Religious Empires to Secular States: State Secularization in Turkey, Iran, and Russia
" The 1920s and the 1930s, Turkey, Iran and Russia vehemently pursued state-secularizing reforms, but adopted different strategies in doing so. But why do states follow different secularizing strategies? The literature has already shattered the illusion that secularization of the state has been a unilinear, homogeneous and universal process, and has convincingly shown that secularization of the state has unfolded along different paths. Much, howe…
State Secularization and Religious Resurgence: Diverging Fates of Secularism in Turkey and Iran
The recent Arab revolutions/rebellions/protests have raised once again an old question: what features should the Arab political systems ideally have? Inescapably, perhaps, the case of Turkey frequently appears as a model to be emulated in the Arab world. A variety of actors, from George W. Bush to Barack Obama, from Rashid Ganouchi to Hillary Clinton has in fact viewed Turkey in that role. Even though, many intellectuals and academics usually rai…
Overcoming the Secular Suspicion? State Secularity and its Impact on Societal Relations in Turkey and Egypt
What conditions are the most conducive for religious and secular groups to overcome their mutual fears and suspicions towards each other? This article addresses this question through a comparative historical analysis of two major cases from the Middle East: Turkey and Egypt. The article argues that institutional differences in state-religion relations explain why Turkish religious groups, but not their Egyptian counter-parts, could better allevia…
Religion in Politics: How Does Inequality Affect Public Secularization
This study investigates the factors that affect variations in secular attitudes toward politics. The literature suggests that modernization may weaken traditional bonds with religious adherence and the state can assume an important role in this endeavor through mass education, industrialization, and other factors. However, this explanation is incomplete in light of the resurgence of religious movements. This study argues that economic inequality …
The State in the Pulpit: State Incorporation of Religious Institutions in the Middle East
Political development literature held that the process of secularization is conflict-ridden between the state and religious institutions. Later state building literature left state-religion relations outside its theoretical scope and left a puzzle in our understanding of state building. How did state-religion relations really change in the course of modern state formation? This article argues that the relationship between state builders and relig…
What made Ataturk's reforms possible
Most studies on Ataturk's reforms focus on the intentions of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, but the intentions alone do not explain how the reforms became possible. This paper rather looks at the conditions prevailing at the time of the reforms. It shows that, as a result of a variety of factors, both domestic and international, the state and society in Turkey were in contrasting situations: the former was exceptionally strong while the latter was seriou…
Religion in Politics: How Does Inequality Affect Public Secularization
This study investigates the factors that affect variations in secular attitudes toward politics. The literature suggests that modernization may weaken traditional bonds with religious adherence and the state can assume an important role in this endeavor through mass education, industrialization, and other factors. However, this explanation is incomplete in light of the resurgence of religious movements. This study argues that economic inequality …
Islamism and Turkey's foreign policy during the Arab Spring
The Arab Spring truly caught Turkey by surprise. In interpreting what was happening in the region, Turkey's foreign policy-makers relied on a particular view, which helped steer Turkey's foreign policy in the ensuing regional earthquake. This article seeks to dissect that view and deconstructs its main components mainly through the speeches of Ahmet Davutoğlu, who served as Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs during the heyday of the Arab Spring…
The State in the Pulpit: State Incorporation of Religious Institutions in the Middle East
Political development literature held that the process of secularization is conflict-ridden between the state and religious institutions. Later state building literature left state-religion relations outside its theoretical scope and left a puzzle in our understanding of state building. How did state-religion relations really change in the course of modern state formation? This article argues that the relationship between state builders and relig…
What made Ataturk's reforms possible
Most studies on Ataturk's reforms focus on the intentions of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, but the intentions alone do not explain how the reforms became possible. This paper rather looks at the conditions prevailing at the time of the reforms. It shows that, as a result of a variety of factors, both domestic and international, the state and society in Turkey were in contrasting situations: the former was exceptionally strong while the latter was seriou…
State Secularization and Religious Resurgence: Diverging Fates of Secularism in Turkey and Iran
The recent Arab revolutions/rebellions/protests have raised once again an old question: what features should the Arab political systems ideally have? Inescapably, perhaps, the case of Turkey frequently appears as a model to be emulated in the Arab world. A variety of actors, from George W. Bush to Barack Obama, from Rashid Ganouchi to Hillary Clinton has in fact viewed Turkey in that role. Even though, many intellectuals and academics usually rai…
Making Sense of Turkey's Foreign Policy: Clashing Identities and Interests
What made Ataturk's reforms possible
Most studies on Ataturk's reforms focus on the intentions of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, but the intentions alone do not explain how the reforms became possible. This paper rather looks at the conditions prevailing at the time of the reforms. It shows that, as a result of a variety of factors, both domestic and international, the state and society in Turkey were in contrasting situations: the former was exceptionally strong while the latter was seriou…
The State in the Pulpit: State Incorporation of Religious Institutions in the Middle East
Political development literature held that the process of secularization is conflict-ridden between the state and religious institutions. Later state building literature left state-religion relations outside its theoretical scope and left a puzzle in our understanding of state building. How did state-religion relations really change in the course of modern state formation? This article argues that the relationship between state builders and relig…
Religion in Politics: How Does Inequality Affect Public Secularization
This study investigates the factors that affect variations in secular attitudes toward politics. The literature suggests that modernization may weaken traditional bonds with religious adherence and the state can assume an important role in this endeavor through mass education, industrialization, and other factors. However, this explanation is incomplete in light of the resurgence of religious movements. This study argues that economic inequality …
Overcoming the Secular Suspicion? State Secularity and its Impact on Societal Relations in Turkey and Egypt
What conditions are the most conducive for religious and secular groups to overcome their mutual fears and suspicions towards each other? This article addresses this question through a comparative historical analysis of two major cases from the Middle East: Turkey and Egypt. The article argues that institutional differences in state-religion relations explain why Turkish religious groups, but not their Egyptian counter-parts, could better allevia…
State-Society Relations in the Arab Gulf States
This book examines the strategies and dynamics through which state-society relations in the Arab Gulf region have been cultivated, and explores the alternative political, social, economic and popular changes that threaten these relations. The work focuses on understanding how state sovereignty has been shifting to accommodate internal social, cultural, and intellectual forces and how these forces have managed to balance social and political power…
Bilim felsefesi ışığında iktisat metodolojisi
İlk sayısını Haziran 2011'de çıkaran İnsan & Toplum Dergisi, yılda iki kez yayımlanan, hem Türkçe hem de İngilizce yazılara yer veren hakemli bir dergidir. İnsan & Toplum, akademik yayın dünyasında görülen iki temel eksikliği duyumsayarak yola çıktı. Bunlardan biri, kendi disipliner sınırlarına hapsolmuş akademyanın insan ve toplumu birbirinden izole ederek ayrıştırarak çalışma yapmasının bir teamül haline gelmiş olmasıdır. İkincisi de, disiplinl…
From Religious Empires to Secular States: State Secularization in Turkey, Iran, and Russia
In the 1920s and the 1930s, Turkey, Iran and Russia vehemently pursued state-secularizing reforms, but adopted different strategies in doing so. But why do states follow different secularizing strategies? The literature has already shattered the illusion that secularization of the state has been a unilinear, homogeneous and universal process, and has convincingly shown that secularization of the state has unfolded along different paths. Much, how…
From Religious Empires to Secular States: State Secularization in Turkey, Iran, and Russia
" The 1920s and the 1930s, Turkey, Iran and Russia vehemently pursued state-secularizing reforms, but adopted different strategies in doing so. But why do states follow different secularizing strategies? The literature has already shattered the illusion that secularization of the state has been a unilinear, homogeneous and universal process, and has convincingly shown that secularization of the state has unfolded along different paths. Much, howe…
State Secularization and Religious Resurgence: Diverging Fates of Secularism in Turkey and Iran
The recent Arab revolutions/rebellions/protests have raised once again an old question: what features should the Arab political systems ideally have? Inescapably, perhaps, the case of Turkey frequently appears as a model to be emulated in the Arab world. A variety of actors, from George W. Bush to Barack Obama, from Rashid Ganouchi to Hillary Clinton has in fact viewed Turkey in that role. Even though, many intellectuals and academics usually rai…
Turkey's Islamists: Accidental Democrats
When it was founded in 2001, the current ruling party in Turkey, the Justice and Development Party (JDP), unequivocally declared its commitment to democracy and secularism (JDP 2014). Nevertheless, the party's implementation of reforms aimed at strengthening Turkey's democracy after coming to power in 2002 surprised many observers because the JDP's top leaders had been known Islamists. The speed and dedication with which the government introduced…
Discourse and oppositionality in the Arab Spring: The case of the Muslim Brotherhood in the UAE
Theorizing the nature and possibility of political opposition in the Arab Gulf states after the ‘Arab Spring’ has largely focused on the state’s capacity to dispense economic patronage to defuse any oppositional formation. Citing the lack of critical popular and public mobilization, many opted to focus only on the ‘resilience’ of the state, re-emphasizing the often-touted view of ‘Gulf exceptionalism’ under the rentier state social contract. With…
Turkey and Qatar in the Tangled Geopolitics of the Middle East
This book narrates how Turkey and Qatar have come to forge a mutually special relationship. The book argues that throughout the 2000s Turkey and Qatar had pursued similar foreign policies and aligned
Making Sense of Turkey's Foreign Policy: Clashing Identities and Interests
Islamism and Turkey's foreign policy during the Arab Spring
The Arab Spring truly caught Turkey by surprise. In interpreting what was happening in the region, Turkey's foreign policy-makers relied on a particular view, which helped steer Turkey's foreign policy in the ensuing regional earthquake. This article seeks to dissect that view and deconstructs its main components mainly through the speeches of Ahmet Davutoğlu, who served as Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs during the heyday of the Arab Spring…
Making Sense of Turkey’s Reaction to the Qatar Crisis
When the Qatar crisis erupted in June 2017, Turkey quickly sided with Qatar, sending tons of food supplies and deploying troops in the Emirate. Yet, from a purely geopolitical and economic perspective, Turkey would have been expected not to take sides given its much larger trade relations with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and their political clout in the region and beyond. It seems that the path dependence in bilateral relations bet…
Islam, Authoritarianism, and Underdevelopment
“Why are Muslim-majority countries less peaceful, less democratic, less developed?” This is the question Ahmet Kuru poses and seeks to answer in his Islam, Authoritarianism, and Underdevelopment. Kuru's quite elaborate and complex causal explanation can be summarized as follows:The Muslim world was once unlike what it is today: specifically, between the eighth and twelfth centuries, it accommodated an ethnically and religiously pluralistic societ…
Political science (12 works) · Politics (11 works) · Law (10 works) · Sociology (9 works) · History (7 works) · Islamic Studies and History (7 works) · Political economy (7 works) · Turkey's Politics and Society (7 works) · Economics (6 works) · Law (6 works)