Doğu Ergil

What is Fethullah Gülen’s view on projects such as “Islamic Common Market” or “Union of Muslim Countries”?

From what Gülen has expressed previously, it might be expected that he would view such associations favorably. But, his position is different:

In a globalized world, establishing associations based on the common denominators like race or religion in today’s world are looked at with repugnance or should be looked at with repugnance. Partnerships should be established which do not differentiate on the basis of religion or ethnicity and do not lead to the formation of divisive fronts. Front formations like Islam and Christianity or Islamic world vs. the West should never be allowed, at all.

In a globalized world the way to have a say in the power balance, goes through establishment of alliances first of all, with the neighboring countries, and later with the nations having more common points, but without having an exclusionary attitude to others. Establishment of natural alliances and instead of enemies, being encircled by the friends should be made the aim of every, and this should be realized by any means. (1)

Ideas turning into concrete politics do not only stem from the fact that those who advance them are bright, but also from their ability to foresee that the time is right for particular ideas to be actualized. It is a matter of wisdom and farsightedness. And while it is normal for alliances to be established to the advantage of those establishing them, it is imperative that these alliances do not harm other countries and extra precautions must be taken to avoid causing tensions. In this regard, Gülen states:

For alliances and peace, it is not absolutely necessary to have various organizations; extreme caution should be applied not to give way to the establishment of opposition camps; all humanity needs it. (2)

While Gülen agrees the joining the European Union, he stresses the need to also develop and improve relationships with the Turkic Republics of the former Soviet Union in Central Asia:

Our integration with Europe is very significant, but our opening up to Asia would be a bridge for the Turkish businessmen and investors, it would facilitate the competition with the rest of the world. Maybe, some joint ventures will be undertaken and in terms of our relationships, these things will give us strength. Of course, the same things might be true for the Pacific world. We are not bound to anyone with a rope; we can use the Pacific, or Asia as well as Europe. The existence of different alternatives would have given us the lee-way for bargaining. Our politicians … our diplomats … could not foresee this. Asia is an important security for the future … For this reason, in order not to miss the chances in the long run, with the friends who think like I do, have established the institutions of science and wisdom to gather our enlightened ones under the same roof. We are trying to recover the chances we had missed. With the hope that maybe we can be able to catch them after 25 years or if the circumstances warrant it, we can realize it in 15 years. (3)

During the administration of Refahyol (coalition of Welfare and the True Path parties, this being the acronym of both parties) government in 1996 and 1997, it was desired to establish a Muslim economic and military pact (it was named “The Developing 8”). When asked his view on this, he responded.

I personally see D-8 as a cheap message to some circles. It is a matter with a lot of risks. I do not know if they really believed that D-8 would bring something. First of all, the conjuncture was not conducive to it. As Muslim countries each one of them is in the hand of a Western power. Saudi Arabia is like that and Iran is like that. Without the permission of the countries at the steering wheel, no one would allow you to move to make such a pact. Also, there is the matter of how the Islamic world views you. Islamic world, by saying “the source of religion is with us” has always looked down on us. Even when we were trying to open schools in Asia, we petitioned to them with the same aim. Saying “let us think about it later,” they dragged the matter and acted toward us with disrespect. (4)

Notes:

(1) Interview with Fethullah Gülen, Kenya Daily Nation, 30 July 2004.

(2) Ibid.

(3) Sevindi, Nevval. 2002. Fethullah Gülen’le Global Hosgörü ve New York Sohbetleri. Istanbul: Timas. Pages, 93-94.

(4) Ibid. 93

Source:

Ergil, Doğu. 2012. Fethullah Gülen & The Gülen Movement in 100 Questions. New York: Blue Dome Press. Pages 246-48.

Prof. Dr. Dogu Ergil has received his BA degree in Psychology and Sociology at Ankara University to be followed by an MA degree at Oklahoma University in Sociology (Social Psychology minor) and a Ph D in Development Studies, an interdisciplinary program composed of Political Science, Political Economy and Sociology, at the State University of New York at Binghamton.

He returned to Turkey to teach first at the Middle East Technical University and later at the Ankara University. He became a full professor and the chairperson of the Department of Political Behavior at the Faculty of Political Science of the latter University.

Dr. Ergil wrote twenty-two books, many of which in Turkish. He has contributed many book chapters and articles in many countries and prestigious international journals.

He has been awarded with British Council Fellowship that enabled him to be a visiting Professor at the London School of Economics, the Fulbright Fellowship that gave him the chance of being a visiting scholar at the School of Advanced International Studies (Washington DC). Additionally he was awarded with research fellowships by the Winston Foundation for World Peace and later twice (1999-2000 and 2005-2006) by the National Endowment for Democracy (Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship). The New School for Social Research University in New York has also honored him with the renowned “University in Exile” democracy and human rights award in 2000.

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