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Changes in Islamic Hermeneutics and Social Evolution: a Comparative Study of Turkey and Algeria Sadik Kirazli

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Changes in Islamic Hermeneutics and Social Evolution: a Comparative Study of Turkey and Algeria Sadik Kirazli Duquesne University Duquesne Scholarship Collection Electronic Theses and Dissertations Fall 2003 Changes in Islamic Hermeneutics and Social Evolution: A Comparative Study of Turkey and Algeria Sadik Kirazli Follow this and additional works at: https://dsc.duq.edu/etd Recommended Citation Kirazli, S. (2003). Changes in Islamic Hermeneutics and Social Evolution: A Comparative Study of Turkey and Algeria (Master's thesis, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/749 This Immediate Access is brought to you for free and open access by Duquesne Scholarship Collection. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Duquesne Scholarship Collection. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Changes in Islamic Hermeneutics and Social Evolution: A Comparative Study of Turkey and Algeria A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Center for Social and Public Policy McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts Duquesne University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts by Sadik Kirazli October 9, 2003 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHANGES IN ISLAMIC HERMENEUTICS AND SOCIAL EVOLUTIONS:----------------------------------------------------------I ABSTRACT --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------V ABBREVIATIONS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VI CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 1.1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 1.2. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND HYPOTHESIS -------------------------------------------- 3 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 2.1. HERMENEUTICS: INTERPRETATION THEORY-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 2.2. UNDERSTANDING OF ISLAM----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 2.3. POLITICAL ISLAM AND ISLAMIC MOVEMENTS-----------------------------------------------------------------------------10 CHAPTER 3: TURKEY AND ALGERIA: IN SEARCH OF A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK------ 14 3.1. HISTORICAL FOUNDATION FOR EMERGENCE OF THE MODERN ISLAMIC MOVEMENTS----------------------------14 3.2. THE FOUNDATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY-------------------------------------------------------------------------15 3.2.1. The military interruption and the period of the post-Welfare Party ----------------------------------------- 18 3.3. THE FOUNDATION OF THE PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ALGERIA----------------------------------------22 3.3.1. The Islamic Salvation Front and the military junta-------------------------------------------------------------- 25 3.3. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------27 3.4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND HYPOTHESIS -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------30 3.4.1. Research questions------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31 3.4.2. Hypothesis ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 31 CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH DESIGN ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33 4.1. METHODOLOGY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------33 4.2. LIMITATIONS-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------35 CHAPTER 5: FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 36 5.1. THE KEY FACTORS THAT FAVORED AND DISCOURAGED THE USE OF VIOLENCE -----------------------------------37 5.1.1. ALGERIA: at the crossroad -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 37 5.1.1.1. Sayyid Qutb and Jahiliyyah Analogy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------37 5.1.1.2. Wahhabism ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------40 5.1.1.3. Shi’ism and Iran Revolution--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------42 5.1.1.4. The Arab-Afghan Mujahidins and the armed groups---------------------------------------------------------------43 5.1.2. TURKEY: towards the social contract------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 48 5.1.2.1. The concept of Turkish Islam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------49 5.1.2.2. Sufi religious brotherhood and Nur movement ----------------------------------------------------------------------51 5.2. THE IMPACT OF THE SOCIOPOLITICAL CULTURAL HERITAGE-----------------------------------------------------------62 5.2.1. The characteristic of the legacy--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 62 5.2.2. The struggle with modernization and democratization --------------------------------------------------------- 64 5.3. ISLAMIC PERCEPTIONS ON JIHAD, EXTREMISM, VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM----------------------------------------68 5.3.1. The concept of Jihad ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 68 5.3.2. The concepts of extremism, violence and terrorism-------------------------------------------------------------- 72 CHAPTER 7: CONCLUSION ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 78 7.1. COMPARATIVE IMPLICATIONS-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------78 7.2. POSSIBLE CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION ---------------------------------------------------------82 BIBLIOGRAPHY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 86 APPENDIX A: GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 95 APPENDIX B: TABLES FOR THE SURVEY RESULTS --------------------------------------------------------------100 ii APPENDIX C: MAPS OF TURKEY AND ALGERIA ------------------------------------------------------------------103 iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In reflecting upon the work involved in completing this study, several people deserve mention for their help and encouragement. First, I would like to thank those of my friends who, over the last few years, have encouraged and stimulated me in the course of numerous conversations. In this sense, I wish to thank Dr. Naim Kapucu, Dr. Jean-Jacques Sene and Ph. D. candidate Sitki Corbacioglu for their great support. Second, my deepest sincere thanks go to the members of my thesis committee, Dr. Moni McIntyre and Dr. Mary F. Antolini, for sharing their valuable advice and experiences. Despite their busy schedules and numerous obligations, both gave freely of their time, helpful comments and insights for which I am deeply grateful. I especially enjoyed working with Dr. Antolini, whose course teachings have allowed me to gain a better understanding of the framework for this study. It also gives me a great pleasure to acknowledge Anar Ahmadov and Murat Baday, who assisted in the improvement of this paper. Finally, I thank my wife, Fatma, love of my life, who provided me with the spiritual inspiration and encouragement. iv ABSTRACT In comparing the evolution of the current struggle between religious challengers and the ruling class in Algeria and Turkey, this paper examines why and how Algerians became involved in a civil war which has continued almost six years, and why Turkey was not like Algeria. In order to carry out this investigation, the following research questions are developed: What key factors favored or discouraged the use of violence in both countries? Since religion in and of itself does not lead to intolerance, what are the key factors that nourished the deviant interpretation? What is the impact of the sociopolitical cultural heritage of each country regarding violence and how people behave and act in a conflict? And what is the Islamic perception on extremism, violence, and terrorism? In the light of available evidence, the research deals with the reinterpretation of traditional Islamic concepts such as jahiliyyah, takfir, jihad, and separation that are the key terms in the explanation of the different responses given by the Islamic groups and movements in Algeria and Turkey. The findings show that the internal political conflict in both countries was the outcome of different re-interpretations and understandings of these concepts. In the reinterpretation of these concepts and in the response to secular repression, the sociopolitical cultural background of each country also has a considerable impact. The paper also analyzes the Islamic perceptions on the extremism, violence and terrorism at this time. In the conclusion, the paper points out some possible considerations for policy makers. v ABBREVIATIONS AIS Arme Islamique
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