`Kayhan Delibas provides a unique study of the roots of Muslim politics in Turkey. Based on extraordinary direct observation, he offers compelling evidence that the imbalances resulting from a fragmented party system, urbanisation, and neoliberal economic restructuring provided the main impetus to grassroots activism. This is thus a powerful explanation for the rise of religious-leaning political movements in an avowedly secularist republic, as well as a much-needed rebalancing of perspective in the often ideologised debates over political İslam generally.
' James Piscatori, Professor of İnternational Relations, School of Government and İnternational Affairs, Durham University
`An essential contribution to our understanding of the everyday workings of political İslam. An exemplary case study.
' Frank Furedi, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, University of Kent
`Kayhan Delibas has written an important book. He takes political İslam seriously and seeks to move beyond the simplistic accounts which place ideology as the central driver of a social movement. Without ignoring the ideological imperatives inherent in Turkey's political İslam, he demonstrates how rapid economic and demographic changes to urban Turkey, like Ankara, and by extension other parts of the Muslim world, like Tehran, have resulted in an increased perception of isolation from mainstream politics... Clearly a book to read for anyone concerned with security in the Middle East and the broader Muslim world.
Stephen M. Lyon, Senior Lecturer, Department of Anthropology, Durham University
