Definition
Welfare Party (Refah Partisi) - Formed as an Islamist political organization in Turkey in 1983, the Welfare Party (RP) served as the ideological successor to the Milli Nizam Partisi (National Order Party, MNP) and the Milli Selamet Partisi (National Salvation Party, MSP), both of which were banned from political activities.
Etymology and Translations
- Arabic: حزب الرفاه (Hizb ar-Rifāh)
- Turkish: Refah Partisi (RP)
Historical Background
The Welfare Party (RP) emerged on the Turkish political scene in 1983. Despite the suppression of its precursors—the Milli Nizam Partisi (MNP), which was banned before participating in elections, and the Milli Selamet Partisi (MSP), which saw participation in two coalition governments before being dissolved following the 1980 military coup—the Welfare Party quickly gained ground.
Leadership and Key Events
The unifying figure for the Welfare Party has always been Necmettin Erbakan. Under his leadership, the RP advocated for policies based on Islamic principles:
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Advocacy for Islamic Moral Economic System: Unlike the global capitalist ideas, the RP promoted economic policies grounded in Islamic moral values.
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Stronger Ties with Muslim Nations: A key platform of the RP was the enhancement of diplomatic and economic relationships with other Muslim-majority countries.
The RP achieved remarkable political success in the mid-1990s:
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Electoral Success in 1995: In the 1995 general elections, the Welfare Party secured more parliamentary seats than any other party.
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Formation of a Coalition Government in 1996: Necmettin Erbakan became Prime Minister of Turkey in 1996 at the helm of a coalition government, marking the peak of the RP’s political ascendancy.
However, the RP’s success was short-lived:
- Resignation and Ban in 1997: In 1997, Erbakan was pressured to resign by the military, and by 1998, the Welfare Party was formally banned.
Aftermath and Legacy
After the RP’s disbandment, the Fazilet Partisi (Virtue Party, FP) was established, taking on the mantle as the new Islamically oriented political movement in Turkey. The appellation of Islamist political activism fostered by Necmettin Erbakan through the Welfare Party profoundly influenced the trajectory of political Islam in Turkey.
Suggested Books for Further Studies
- “Islam, Secularism and Nationalism in Modern Turkey: Who is a Turk?” by Soner Cagaptay
- “The Politics of Modern Turkey: Critical Issues in Modern Politics” edited by Ali Çarkoğlu and Barry Rubin
- “The Welfare Party and Political Islam in Turkey” by Jenny B. White
Takeaways
- The Welfare Party’s rise and eventual outlawing highlight the volatile balance between Islamist political movements and secular military interventions in Turkey.
- The RP’s focus on Islamic economic and political principles set a precedent for future Islamist politics in Turkey.
- Necmettin Erbakan’s role was central, marking him as a pivotal figure in modern Turkish political history.
Conclusion
The story of the Welfare Party is a significant chapter in Turkey’s political history, encapsulating the dynamics of Islamist politics, military influence, and the transformative figure of Necmettin Erbakan. For students of political Islam and Turkish history, understanding the Welfare Party provides essential insights into the complexities and challenges of integrating political Islam within a secular state framework.
