Professor William Hale

Visiting Professor, Department of Politics, University of Otago, NZ
Former Professor of Turkish Politics, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

CAIS AL FALASI LECTURE THEATRE, BUILDING 127, ANU

The rise of political Islamism in much of the Muslim world has been seen as a serious challenge to the values of liberal democracy. Professor Hale’s presentation seeks to examine this proposal, in the light of the programme and performance of Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) which has ruled the country since its victory in the general elections of 2002. For some, this story has been seen as a beacon of hope for the Muslim world, a clear sign that democratic government is perfectly possible in a Muslim society, even when the ruling party has faith-based roots. By others, the AKP is seen as no more than a facade, behind which radical Islamists hope to impose
an authoritarian Islamist state. In assessing these arguments, he attempts to analyse the AKP, in terms not just of its ideological agenda, but also of its social basis and performance in office in the main theatres of public policy – political reform, and cultural, economic and foreign policies. In conclusion, he offers some ideas as to why Turkey’s experience may be different from those of other Muslim societies.

William Hale is a former Professor of Turkish Politics in the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London. He is a specialist on the politics of the Middle East, especially Turkey. His publications include The Political and Economic Development of Modern Turkey (London, Croom Helm, l981, 1984), Turkish Politics and the Military (London, Routledge, 1994), Turkish Foreign Policy 1774-2000 (London, Frank Cass, 2000, 2002), Turkey, the US and Iraq (London, Saqi Books, for London Middle East Institute, 2007) and a number of papers and edited books on
modern Turkish politics and history. With Ergun Özbudun, he is co-author of Islam, Democracy and Liberalism in Turkey: The Case of the AKP, to be published by Routledge in 2009.