PDF Dosyası - Ankara Üniversitesi Kitaplar Veritabanı

eligious differences. Secularism is also important as supporting theintegration of Turkey's non Müslim minorities and is valuable infacilitating Turkey's integration in the family of Western nations.In conclusion, ali too often secularism in Turkey has been seen asbeing motivated predominantly by the need to overcome the forces ofreaction and to ensure the country's modernization. Equal value shouldbe given, however, to considerations of national unity. Theseconsiderations must have played their part in Atatürk's promotion ofsecularism, and they are certainly recognized by present day politicalleaders. But islam, too, although not a constitutional principle, has had animportance of its own and should be recognized for what it is -a vitalbond holding Turkish society together. Their coexistence is nothing newin Turkish history. Back in Ottoman times statesmen spoke in Ottomanistterms to win över the non Muslims and in the process accelerated theprocess of secularization of the state. At the same time they continued touphold the religious institutions and symbols of the Empire for thepurpose of assuring the loyalty of their Müslim citizens. Facing similarproblems, Turkish statesmen in both periods followed similar policiesand there is thus more continuation between the Ottoman Empire and theTurkish Republic than meets the eye.203