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Erdogans Justice and Development Partys 2002 political triumph marked the beginning of the implementation of a program of unhurried and balanced change to transform Turkey. The Islamist rooted party pushed the campaign of political reconfiguration by side-lining the guardian of secularism the military and the security apparatus, who had diluted democracy through successive coups over six decades. The re-introduction of Islam in public life and the gradual resuscitation of the Ottoman memory in the public discourse tickles one to dwell into the paradox that whether Erdogan is imagining an Islamic State or just brandishing nationalism to remain in power for as long as he could wish.

In the month of July, a 1500-year-old monument, Hagia Sophia, was restored to a mosque which was earlier converted into a museum in 1930 by Ataturk. The move cemented the belief that the Islamisation process is aimed at creating Turkey as an Islamic power centre and therefore, an Islamic State. Some have even argued that Erdogans campaign at its core is intended to change the secularist status-quo. Without any conjecture, since Erdogan came to power, Islam has moved to the centre stage and Turks have become more vocal about their Muslimness. Though Erdogan tries to connect to Muslims throughout the world, but to say that he intends to create an Islamic State would mean falling into simplifications and narratives.

Since 1923, when Turkey became a country, the Islamic cultural code and its political model were side-lined and subdued. Kemalism was fostered as a national and progressive ideology. Post 1950, Islamism in Turkey began to show resurgence and gradually asserted political space through the 1970s. In the 1990s, Islamism secured political ground with electoral victories in 1994 and 1996 with Necmettin Erbakan becoming the first Islamist Prime Minister. However, the soft coup of 1997 once again brought Kemalism to political fore-front. With the turn of the century, Islamism or Islamists adopted more progressive and accommodative outlook while advocating for the freedom to live a life guided by religion which is Islamically pure and at the same time respecting secularism, pluralism and laciest culture. The first decade of rule by Erdogans Justice and Development Party (2002-2013) viewed secular ideology, religious freedom and the Anglo-Saxon model as the guiding principles for Turkey, while successfully marginalising the Kemalists, the military and judiciary through certain Constitutional amendments.

The third term of Erdogans rule is a milestone in Islamisation of politics. The AKP party, which initially appeared to carry democratic principles along with Islamic ambitions to gain peoples support, started asserting their Islamic motivations by side-lining the democratic values. By the third term, the AKP party successfully convinced the Muslim majority the necessity to adopt the Islamic beliefs and lifestyle. To lure large number of people to believe in his ambitions, Erdogan established many Islamic schools and also made significant reforms in all sectors of the society to incorporate Islamic ethics. He further filled the crucial posts with his supporters in the name of restructurings. The party drifted away from its traditional western partners and initiated ties with the Muslim countries, especially Iran. Erdogan put forward his pan-Islamic views while establishing relations with the Muslim nations. Apart from the policy changes, he repetitively advocated the Caliphate while addressing the world Islamic community (Ummah).

With the increasing Islamic reforms in Turkey, inferences surrounded the future of Turkey and Erdogans intentions. Being a secular nation for decades, would the people of Turkey accept the Islamic regime; and does Erdogan genuinely intend to build a Caliphate, remain the prominent questions to be addressed. Especially, after Turkeys increasing engagement with Iran, a state that strongly supports the Caliphate, most of the world speculates that Erdogan truly wishes to build a Caliphate; and Turkey being a Muslim majority state would benefit his intents. Yet, the creation of an Islamic State in todays world is not that simple. In principle, it may seem ideal, but to bring it to practicality is equally complex. Though the world witnessed such acclaim from the ISIS, however, in what form it existed is debatable. The Islamic State has its complete political model, cultural codes, legal structures and economic arrangement. In the first place, the concept of the modern nation-state; territorial limits; and the rise of nationalism limits the possibility of such a creation.

The Islamists throughout the Muslim world have sought to create such an ideal state. However, none could successfully establish a Caliphate. The Muslim world is mostly separated on sectarian lines, and most of them are in territorial wars with each other. Many of the Muslim nations are not politically stable to collaborate. Muslims from different parts of the world dont connect with each others ideas due to the long geographical distances and near absent cultural ties. It is hard to bring all the Muslim community in the world under one umbrella. The Muslims that converted lately doesnt have much knowledge of the Caliphate and dont emotionally relate to it. The strong sense of nationalism and substantial cultural differences, due to decades-long cultural changes shaped by respective nations, also contain Muslims from all over the world to come together. Various organisations like the ISIS and Al-Queda also announced their intentions of forming a Caliphate but could not succeed; rather, differences emerged between the two groups.

With all the obstacles and complexities, the formation of a Caliphate is near impossible. Erdogan, being a student of an Islamic school, is a strong believer of Islam and he has been highly influenced by the National outlook party which is known for its Islamic stance. It could be speculated that the Erdogans socio-political transformations are not intended to build a Caliphate but to make Turkey an Islamic authoritarian nation. Certain transformations made by his party also exhibit Erdogans desire to continue being in power. His international outlook is also to assert his influenc in the region rather than to collaborate towards a formation of an Islamic State. A detailed research on Erdogans ideas and strategies is much required to explain the events further.

Photo Credit : Getty Images

Mohmad Saleem SheikhPhd Fellow, JMI.

NOTE: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of New Delhi Times (NDT)

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How Erdogan is misleading the Ummah by promising Caliphate in today's world - New Delhi Times