The Dynamics of Democratization

In this penetrating work, M. Hakan Yavuz seeks to answer a number of questions that shapes Turkey's political climate today, and to provide a comprehensive analysis of Islamic political identity in the country. Yavuz argues that Islamic social movements can be important agents for promoting a democratic and pluralistic society, and that the Turkish example holds long term promise for the rest of the Muslim world. Based on extensive fieldwork and interviews, this work offers a sophisticated new understanding of the role of political Islam in one of the world's most strategically important countries.

In undemocratic settings, where modes of political participation and interest mediation are severely limited, protest may become a major form of political action. When and why does popular upsurge occur in such a setting?