Fethullah Gulen and the Hizmet Movement: Origins and Organization

Abstract

During the twentieth century, Turkey witnessed the emergence of numerous intellectual and social movements of an Islamic character. These movements sought to address the challenges posed by the political and social transformations that accompanied the founding of the modern Turkish state. Among the most significant of these, the Hizmet Movement emerged as a prominent civil movement with an educational and reformist orientation. It was closely linked to the ideas of the Turkish reformer and thinker, Fethullah Gulen, who advocated for societal development through education, the consolidation of moral values, dialogue, and tolerance.

The research aims to study the origins and development of the Hizmet Movement within its Turkish context, examining the religious legacy, the modern state, social transformations, multi-party politics, and military coups. Furthermore, it analyzes the movement's organizational structure and its mechanisms of sustainability, shedding light on its leadership, institutions, and funding, as well as the key factors that contributed to its proliferation and expansion. The study seeks to provide a practical insight that contributes to understanding the nature of the movement and its standing among contemporary social movements in Turkey and globally.