Özal's politics with special reference to religion

Present thesis aims to analyze ÖzaTs politics while taking his special reference to religion into consideration. About Özal's politics, domestic and international politics, the Southeast problem, economy and religion form the framework of this study. During 1983-1993, when Özal was on the stage either as Prime Minister or President, religion became an important factor in the life of Turkish society and the style of the relations between politics and religion changed a great deal. Özal introduced a new identity to Turkey since he defined himself as both a Muslim and a modern person. On the one hand, Özal stressed that Turkey is a secular state, on the other hand, he indicated that Islam kept society together. As a conclusion, Özal is evaluated as the last Ottoman sultan who is an engineer-merchant one but not a mullah. This evaluation generates from ÖzaTs style in policy formation as an engineer calculating the optimum risks and as a merchant searching for the most profitable one.