Islamist Mobilization in Turkey : A Study in Vernacular Politics

The emergence of an Islamist movement in Turkey - a model of secular modernization and NATO ally - has puzzled Western observers.

This ethnography of contemporary Istanbul charts the success of Islamist mobilization through the eyes of ordinary people.

Drawing on interviews gathered over 20 years of fieldwork, White focuses on the appeal of Islamic politics in the fabric of Turkish society and among elites, women and educated populations.White shows how everyday concerns and interpersonal relations, rather than Islamic dogma, helped Welfare gain access to community networks, building on continuing face-to-face relationships by way of interactions with constituents through trusted neighbours.

To illuminate the local culture of Istanbul, White has interviewed residents, activists, party officials and municipal administrators and participated in their activities.

She draws on rich experiences and research made possible by years of firsthand observation in the streets and homes of Umraniye, a large neighbourhood that grew in tandem with Turkey's modernization in the late 20th century.