Diyanet as an Erdoganist Foreign Policy Instrument

The aim of this paper is to discuss how Turkey’s president Erdogan instrumentalized Diyanet in building his own foreign policy vision. Diyanet has always maintained as the tool in the hands of the government for integration of ideology into society. During the 80s Diyanet was very active in terms of reinforcing the governmental ideology for struggle with communism, and became more radical under AKP government. Diyanet’s position was very important since it enhanced the foreign relation of Turkey with other countries. Diyanet’s propagating moderate Islam or Turkish Islam under the secular government was welcomed version of Islam abroad. After 2011, the AKP government directed by Erdogan has instrumentalized Diyanet for a new diaspora policy. The new policy has been practiced by employing three strategies. Firstly, Diyanet’s has been given extraordinary roles alongside with traditional ones. Secondly, the ideology of the AKP, the National Outlook, has been empowered in Diyanet’s organizational structure and amongst its activities abroad. Thirdly, the AKP has given new roles to Diyanet to cooperate a particular type of civil society abroad. This civil society prioritized Islamic Brotherhood rather than national unity, Turkishness or Turkey’s national interest.