THE NATIONAL VIEW MOVEMENT AND DA’WAH DISCOURSE IN TURKISH POLITICAL LIFE: ETHNICITY-NEUTRAL NATIONAL ISLAMIC IDENTITY

This study analyzes the historical development of the da’wah discourse and the National View Movement in Turkish political life, evaluating its ideological, political, and social impacts. Focusing on the cause discourse of the National View Movement (Milli Görüş Hareketi) under Necmettin Erbakan's leadership, it examines how this discourse established a pragmatic balance between Islamism and nationalism, shaping itself as a distinctive political narrative within the Turkish right. Findings reveal that da’wah discourse has restructured itself through historical continuities and ruptures, forming a strong link between the national cause (nationalism) and the Islamic cause (ummahism). Moreover, state preservation has emerged as a central element in both ideological and political contexts, enabling the integration of national identity and religious values. The study explores the transformation of the cause discourse within the contexts of modernization, secularism, and nation-state ideology, elucidating its effects on the contemporary Turkish politics. Additionally, it details how the cause discourse has adapted to and transformed in response to challenges posed by modernization, secularization, and the nation-state. Ultimately, study highlights the critical role of the cause discourse in shaping modern Turkish politics and provides an in-depth understanding of the intersection of religion and nationalism within the National View Movement.