Islam and Modernity in Turkey

Abstract

Brian Silverstein’s Islam and Modernity in Turkey challenges conventional narratives about the relationship between Islam, modernity, and secularism in Turkish history. His central argument is that the transition from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic of Turkey was not a straightforward rejection of Islam but rather a complex process shaped by religious reasoning and institutional adaptations. He demonstrates how Sufi orders, particularly the Naqshbandi İskender Pasha Community, engaged with modernity without abandoning their Islamic foundations. Silverstein also critiques the assumption that the Ulema (Islamic scholars) were uniformly resistant to change, showing instead that many supported modernizing reforms, including those of the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP). The book employs genealogical analysis to trace historical continuities and discontinuities, using archival sources and ethnographic insights. Its structure—dividing into critical history (genealogy) and contemporary discourse—allows for a nuanced understanding of how past developments influence present-day religious and political dynamics.

(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)