Muslim reformers in Iran and Turkey : the paradox of moderation / Gunes Murat Tezcur.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Tezcür, Güneş Murat, 1979-

Series:

Modern Middle East series (Austin, Tex.) ; no. 25.

Modern Middle East series ; no. 25

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Jabhah-ʼi Iṣlāḥāt (Iran).

AK Parti (Turkey).

Islam and politics--Iran.

Islam and politics.

Islam and politics--Turkey.

Liberalism--Iran.

Liberalism.

Liberalism--Turkey.

Iran--Politics and government--1997-.

Iran.

Turkey--Politics and government--1980-.

Turkey.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (321 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Austin : University of Texas Press, 2010.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Moderation theory describes the process through which radical political actors develop commitments to electoral competition, political pluralism, human rights, and rule of law and come to prefer negotiation, reconciliation, and electoral politics over provocation, confrontation, and contentious action. Revisiting this theory through an examination of two of the most prominent moderate Islamic political forces in recent history, Muslim Reformers in Iran and Turkey analyzes the gains made and methods implemented by the Reform Front in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Justice and Development Party in Turkey. Both of these groups represent Muslim reformers who came into continual conflict with unelected adversaries who attempted to block their reformist agendas. Based on extensive field research in both locales, Muslim Reformers in Iran and Turkey argues that behavioral moderation as practiced by these groups may actually inhibit democratic progress. Political scientist Güneş Murat Tezcür observes that the ability to implement conciliatory tactics, organize electoral parties, and make political compromises impeded democracy when pursued by the Reform Front and the Justice and Development Party. Challenging conventional wisdom, Tezcür's findings have broad implications for the dynamics of democratic progress.

Contents:

From Islamists to Muslim reformers : a theory of political change

Muslim reformism in comparative perspective

Muslim reformism : engagement with secularism and liberal democracy

The guardians and elections in Iran and Turkey

A moment of enthusiasm in the Islamic Republic

Elusive democratization in the secular republic

A tale of two elections.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0-292-79276-X

OCLC:

649473789