Ottoman Ulema, Turkish Republic Agents of Change and Guardians of Tradition By Amit Bein (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2011. 224 pages.)

Abstract

Much has been written about religion and secularism in Turkey over the past
decades, but detailed histories of the late Ottoman and modern Turkish ulema
have been few and far between. Therefore, this recent book by Amit Bein is
a welcome and a much needed contribution to the literature on the Turkish
ulema and to the literature on religion in modern Turkey in general. It charts
the vicissitudes of the ulema during a period of dramatic change from the late
nineteenth century until roughly 1960. Bein shows the multiple challenges
the ulema faced during successive rounds of political and social reform and
the various approaches that they took in response. The diversity of opinion
and political orientation within the ulema corps are on full display – from the
most ardent nationalist figures, who supported state reforms in all respects, to
the staunchest enemies of the republican regime. This book conveys a nuanced
understanding of who the Turkish ulema were and how they navigated the
empire-to-republic transition ...