Unraveling the Islamist nostalgia; Kulturkampf on urban space in Turkey

Despite the wealth of literature examining the spatial policies of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) governments, there has been a noticeable absence of comparative studies with the spatial concepts found within Turkish Islamism. This article suggests that the use of space as a political tool in cultural conflict has roots dating back to the nineteenth century, and that Islamism has perpetuated this tradition into the Republican period, particularly during the 1990s. By analysing the spatial policies and practices enacted by the AKP governments, valuable insights can be gained into the potential trajectory of Islamism in Turkey. The disparity between the Islamist conceptions of space in the 1980s and 1990s and the policies implemented during the AKP era not only underscores the controversies and conflicts surrounding space, but also provides an illuminating view of Islamist strategies.