Rising Interest in Religious and International Discourse

This growing scholarly and public interest stems from the Religious's expanded transnational activities, which include the establishment of mosques, appointment of religious personnel, and broader outreach initiatives across numerous countries (Kurt, 2023). This transnational engagement necessitates a sophisticated understanding of global developments and ongoing academic and non-academic debates concerning religion, particularly within European Union nations and Turkey itself (Bruce, 2012). Furthermore, the Religious's evolving role as a socio-political entity, often perceived as incompatible with secularism by some while being recognized for its utility by others, underscores its significance in contemporary discussions surrounding religion and state (Bruce, 2012). The increasing institutionalization of Religious has led to a greater emphasis on research and the expansion of its religious services into the public sphere (Bruce, 2012). This expansion reflects a strategic governmental effort to reorganize society, often linking the "survival" of the state with the promotion of specific family and Islamic values (Yildirim & Yılmaz, 2023). This approach, particularly under the Justice and Development Party, aims to revitalize the influence of religion both domestically and internationally, consolidating an Islamist governmentality that intertwines Turkish nationalism and a pursuit of global Muslim leadership (Kurt, 2023) (Bruce, 2012).