This document discusses analyzing the Gulen movement through the lens of new social movements (NSMs). It finds similarities in the Gulen movement being identity-seeking and using new technologies, but differences in supporting capitalism rather than challenging the state. While economic liberalization enabled the Gulen movement, a key factor is its commitment to embracing differences through dialogue, education and philanthropy. Viewing the movement this way legitimizes its focus on respecting differences as core to new social movements.

1. The Gulen movement and its
contributions: New social
movements perspective
Liu, Yu-cheng, PhD
Assistant Master, Residential College of International
Development, NCCU, Taiwan
Assistant Professor, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
E-mail: ycliu15@gmail.com

2. abstract
• This article views the Gulen movement
through new social movements perspective
• on one hand, the Gulen movement benefits
from economic liberalization in Turkey, and
then appropriates it as a way to maintain its
separation from politics and Islamism
• on the other hand, the Gulen movement
pursues universal ethics and values, such as
peace, tolerance, and dialogue

3. what is NSMs? its characteristics-1
1. to some extent irrelevant to structural roles
of the participants
2. contrast to the working-class movement and
to the Marxist conception of ideology as a
unifying and totalizing element for collective
action
3. often involve the emergence of new or
formerly weak dimensions of identity

4. what is NSMs? its characteristics-2
4. the relation between the individual and the
collective is blurred
5. often involve personal and intimate aspects of
human life
6. the use of radical mobilization tactics of
disruption and resistance
7. tend to have a considerable degree of autonomy:
departure from traditional political party politics
8. tend to have segmented, diffuse, and
decentralized organizations

5. similarity with NSMs
• the Gulen movement as an identity-seeking
movement: Ottoman-Turkish-Islamic identity
• new middle-class participants
• the use of technological advancements as a
way of educating masses and youth (Ebaugh)
• faith-initiated, non-political, cultural and
educational movement
• decentralized authority and administrative
structure, a loosely network of local circles

6. differences from NSMs
• supporting modern capitalism and liberal
market economy, not rethinking of them
• the radical form of social conflicts is not
advocated in achieving goals
• avoiding from confronting with the state
(Ebaugh)

7. Yavuz’s model

9. however...
• In my view, Yavuz is correct when connecting
social movement theory to Islamic activism.
• But he does not explain well why the only
important factor is liberal market economy, and
not something else.
• To my point, ‘commitment’ may be another
important factor.
• But ‘commitment to what?’ Considering the
Gulen movement, its commitment is to
‘difference.’

10. • since the old times, whether ‘Ottoman’,
‘Turkish’, or ‘Islam’, they are all differences
used to distinguish from those not belonging
to these categories
• its concerns and strategies admitting on the
one hand there are differences, and on the
other hand, opening spaces for reconsidering
and reemphasizing the need to accept and
tolerate all other differences in the ways of
dialogue, education, or philanthropy.
• The idea of difference is also the core of new
social movements

11. conclusion
• viewing the Gulen movement in this way renders
it legitimate and also raises its chances of success:
people and the world will accept its idea and
further spread to the other places when
considering differences and the respect of them
• NSMs perspective is conducive to evaluating the
contributions of the Gulen movement and re-
positioning the role played by it in the world