Talk with Necmettin Erbakan

Necmettin Erbakan was a Turkish politician who served as the Prime Minister of Turkey from 1996 to 1997. He was born on October 29, 1926, in Sinop, a small town in northern Turkey, and died on February 27, 2011. Erbakan was a leading figure in the development of political Islam in Turkey and was known for his conservative and religious views, which contrasted with Turkey's secular political tradition established by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Erbakan was trained as an engineer and later entered politics, founding several Islamic political parties during his career. His most notable political party was the Welfare Party (Refah Partisi), which he led to a significant victory in the 1995 general elections. The success of the Welfare Party reflected the growing influence of Islamism in Turkish politics.

His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by tensions between his Islamist policies and the secular Turkish military. In 1997, the military facilitated what is often referred to as a "postmodern coup," which pressured Erbakan to resign from his position, citing concerns over his policies potentially undermining the secular constitution of Turkey. This event reinforced the military’s role as a guardian of secularism in the country.

Following his resignation, Erbakan's party was banned and he was banned from politics for a time. Nonetheless, his ideas and political heritage continued to influence Turkish politics, particularly through the rise of other parties and leaders who have roots in his political movement, including Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Necmettin Erbakan's resignation as Prime Minister of Turkey in 1997 was primarily due to military pressure in an event often referred to as the “postmodern coup” or the “February 28 process.” The Turkish military, seeing itself as a guardian of the secular and Kemalist principles of the Turkish Republic, was concerned about Erbakan's Islamic-oriented policies and his party's perceived Islamist tendencies.

During his time in office, Erbakan attempted to implement several policies that were seen as attempts to shift Turkey towards a more religiously oriented governance. This included attempts to strengthen Islamic education, fostering closer ties with Muslim countries, and changing internal policies to reflect Islamic values more strongly. These moves were met with resistance from the secular military and other parts of the Turkish establishment.

The tension reached a climax when the National Security Council, dominated by military leaders, issued a memorandum on February 28, 1997, demanding a redirection towards more secular and pro-Western policies. Faced with the possibility of a full-blown military intervention, Erbakan opted to resign, and his government was replaced by a coalition led by Mesut Yılmaz. The process marked a significant moment in Turkish politics, reflecting the ongoing struggle between secularist and Islamist forces within the country.

Necmettin Erbakan's success in implementing his vision for Turkey was mixed and complex, largely due to the political, social, and economic conditions of the country during his time in leadership, as well as opposition from secular and military establishments.

Erbakan, who was Prime Minister from 1996 to 1997, had a vision rooted in political Islam, aiming to integrate Islamic values more deeply into Turkish public life and governance. He advocated for an economic policy that emphasized independence from Western influence, which he termed "Just Order."

His tenure saw some attempts to orient Turkey towards Islamic markets and reduce its dependence on Western economic models, including initiatives to foster better relations with Muslim-majority countries. However, his tenure was short-lived due to a military memorandum on February 28, 1997, which resulted in the collapse of his government. This intervention, often referred to as a "postmodern coup," was driven by concerns within the military and other segments of the Turkish establishment that Erbakan's policies were steering Turkey away from its secular constitution established by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Erbakan's policies and the ideologies promoted by his Welfare Party also influenced later political currents in Turkey, notably the Justice and Development Party (AKP), which has governed Turkey since 2002 and has roots in the same political movements as Erbakan’s party. Therefore, while his immediate impact may have been limited and his tenure cut short, his broader influence on Turkish politics and the re-emergence of Islam-oriented political ideologies has been significant, setting the stage for shifts in Turkish domestic and foreign policies in the decades following his premiership.

Necmettin Erbakan was critical of European integration and was known for his skeptical views towards the European Union. He prioritized strengthening Turkey's ties with the Muslim world and was cautious about the impacts of Western influence on Turkish society and culture. Erbakan expressed concern that closer integration with Europe would undermine Turkey’s sovereignty and its Islamic values. His stance reflected a broader skepticism among some segments of Turkish society regarding the perceived secular and Christian-oriented identity of European institutions.

Necmettin Erbakan, as a political leader and Prime Minister of Turkey, had a particular approach towards the Middle East conflict, emphasizing the importance of Islamic solidarity and advocating for a more assertive role for Turkey in regional politics. He believed in a pan-Islamic approach and often promoted policies that sought cooperation among Muslim countries. Erbakan was critical of Western influence in the Middle East and opposed the normalization of relations with Israel, which he saw as detrimental to Palestinian interests.

During his time in office, he made efforts to develop stronger ties with Muslim-majority countries and aimed to position Turkey as a leader within the Islamic world. His foreign policy was characterized by a desire to balance Western influences with closer ties to the Middle East and other Islamic countries, reflecting his broader ideological stance on fostering a unified Islamic identity. This approach was part of his broader vision of economic and political independence from the West, which he articulated through his concept of the "Islamic Eight," an economic group intended to foster economic collaboration among eight Muslim nations.

The Felicity Party (Saadet Partisi), founded by Necmettin Erbakan, is rooted in Islamist values, reflecting Erbakan's vision for Turkey and his ideological stance. The core values of the Felicity Party emphasize:

1. Islam as a Guiding Principle: The party sees Islam not just as a religion but as a comprehensive system that governs all aspects of life, including politics, economics, and social relationships. Erbakan advocated for policies and governance models based on Islamic principles, aiming to integrate these into the state structure and public life.

2. Justice and Moral Integrity: The party prioritizes the establishment of a just society, where fairness and moral integrity govern the relationships between individuals and the state. This involves promoting social welfare, economically equitable policies, and fighting corruption within government bodies.

3. National Sovereignty: Erbakan emphasized the importance of national sovereignty and independence, particularly in economic and foreign policies. He was critical of what he perceived as excessive Western influence over Turkey’s political and economic systems, advocating for more independent and assertive policies that reflect Islamic and Turkish interests.

4. Social Justice and Welfare: Economic policies that promote social welfare and reduce inequalities are key tenets of the Felicity Party. Erbakan's economic views often included elements of state intervention to protect the poor and less fortunate segments of society, in line with Islamic teachings about social responsibility.

5. Unity and Community: The party promotes the idea of a united and cohesive community where social bonds are strong and communal values are emphasized. This extends to advocating for policies that strengthen family values and community life according to conservative Islamic norms.

These values reflect Erbakan's broader ideological stance, which aimed to integrate Islamic values more deeply into Turkish political and social systems.

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