Alien Citizens
The State and Religious Minorities in Turkey and France

Examines how international context and domestic politics interact in producing state policies toward religious minorities in Turkey and France.

Ramazan K?l?nç (Author)

9781108476942, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 10 October 2019

264 pages, 2 b/w illus. 3 tables
23.4 x 15.7 x 1.8 cm, 0.5 kg

'What makes this book compelling and refreshing is its emphasis on the interaction between international and domestic policy arenas through an examination of seemingly opposing policies in two very different contexts.' H. Shambayati, Choice

How does international context influence state policies toward religious minorities? Using parliamentary proceedings, court decisions, newspaper archives, and interviews, this book is the first systematic study that employs international context in the study of state policies toward religion, and that compares Turkey and France with regard to religious minorities. Comparing Christians in Turkey and Muslims in France, this book argues that policy change toward minorities becomes possible when strong domestic actors find a suitable international context that can help them execute their policy agendas. The Turkish Islamists used the European Union to transform the Turkish politics that brought a reformist moment for Christians in the 2000s. The Far Right in France utilized the rise of Islamophobia in Europe to adopt restrictive policies toward Muslims. Ramazan K?l?nç argues that the presence of an international context that can favor particular groups over others, shifts the domestic balance of power, and makes some policies more likely to be implemented than others.

Introduction
1. Rethinking state policies toward religious minorities
Part I. Historical Institutions: 2. Secularism and Christians in Turkey
3. Secularism and Muslims in France
Part II. International Context: 4. The European Union and Christians in Turkey
5. Islamophobia and Muslims in France
Part III. Domestic Actors and Policy Change: 6. Kemalists, conservatives, and Christians in Turkey
7. Radical right, liberals, and Muslims in France
Conclusion
8. Testing the argument beyond the scope of the study
9: Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Comparative politics [JPB], Political science & theory [JPA], Politics & government [JP]