A Theoritical Analysis of Social Justice Views of Republican and Islamic Women’s Civil Soıciety Organizations in Turkey: Diverging Claims and Contending Traditions

Abstract

This study attempts to explain diverging claims of justice generating from two major movements within women’s civil society, namely republican and Islamic women’s activism. Given that purpose, empirical data obtained from semi-structured interviews and secondary sources is analyzed under the light of social justice literature which is marked by socioeconomic justice - symbolic justice dichotomy and liberalism – communitarianism debate.

The results of the study suggest that although both movements intend to formulate their own claims of justice within a liberal perspective, the impact of Kemalism and Islam on republican and Islamic civil society organizations is decisive. The power of Islam and Kemalism against liberalism can particularly be better observed in the arguments which they formulate for opposing the claims of other groups.