Paper short abstract:

Proposed paper will discuss “Third way” approach as a tool of neoliberal-Islamic governmentality in Sub-Saharan Africa. Neoliberal-Islamic governmentality of Turkey has a clear urban characteristic that defines and constructs a moral Muslim conception of development and a charity-based social model.

Paper long abstract:

Proposed paper will discuss “Third way” approach as a tool of neoliberal-Islamic governmentality in Sub-Saharan Africa. Since AKP came to power, Turkey and Turkish companies become one of the important non-Western powers in Africa. Turkey has presented itself as an alternative to both Western and Chinese models. Erdoğan regime has called this as a “third way” that combines business with development and peace building. Some of the narratives used on the presidential Web site of Turkey emphasize “shared prosperity”, “partnership of equals”, “win-win”, “national ownership” of African people.

Neoliberal-Islamic governmentality of Erdoğan regime has a clear urban characteristic that defines and constructs a moral Muslim conception of development and a charity-based social model. The hallmark of this regime (both economically and politically) is the construction business. Turkish construction companies, all run by government-friendly tycoons, have been constructing housing projects, airports, railways, ports, hospitals, residential and business complexes, hotels, sport stadiums and shopping malls in Sub-Saharan Africa. The construction work of Turkish companies, intertwined with a moral and Islamic conception of development and modern city life, is visible across the Sub-Saharan Africa.

Not only the construction business, but also civil society organizations (NGO’s) that are close to Erdoğan regime are very active in Sub-Suharan Africa since 2000’s, especially among Muslim communities. Their activities, encounters in Sub-Saharan Africa are deeply entangled with racialized knowledge production around Muslim Africa and the transnational racial formation of Muslim whiteness. Their charity-based existence in Sub-Saharan Africa is also a part of the neoliberal-Islamic governmentality.