The Fortunes of Islamist Movements in Egypt and Turkey 1970-1995 : Fortunes of Islamist Movements in Egypt and Turkey 1970-1995

Abstract

THE FORTUNES OF ISLAMIST MOVEMENTS IN EGYPT AND TURKEY 1970-1995.

The question asked in the dissertation is why Islamist movements have been stronger in Egypt than in Turkey during the last twenty-five years. The research objective is not only to explain why strong opposition movements have emerged in Egypt, but also why opposition is taking an Islamist form. Three theoretical propositions, all focusing on changes in structural factors during the 1970-1995 period, are tested across the two cases to investigate the stated difference between them. The method applied is a structured focused comparison, a modified version of the basic research strategies in comparative analysis, in which cases are compared on limited depth, focusing only on a small number of variables. Findings in the dissertation indicate that the difference in Islamist strength between Egypt and Turkey can be explained by differences in socioeconomic performance, the nature of political institutions and the social mobility of young educated groups. Concerning the question of why opposition is taking an Islamist form, it is argued that Islamist movements can be seen as a struggle for symbolic power (that is the right to define which paradigm should be used for interpreting and solving the problems of the modern world), going on between the young intelligentsia, still rooted in indigenous Muslim tradition, and the ruling 'Westernised' elites.