Felicity Party

The Turkish Felicity Party, known as Saadet Partisi in Turkish, is a political party that has its roots deeply embedded in the tradition of political Islam in Turkey. It emerged from a lineage of Islamist parties, tracing its origins back to the National Order…   Party founded by Necmettin Erbakan in 1970. Over the years, due to political bans and closures by the Constitutional Court of Turkey, the movement has had to reconstitute itself under new names, with the Felicity Party being the latest incarnation, established in 2001.<br /><br />The Felicity Party espouses a set of values that are deeply influenced by Islamic principles, aiming to apply these values within the framework of a democratic and pluralistic society. It advocates for policies that promote social justice, equality, and the eradication of poverty, emphasizing the importance of a fair distribution of wealth. The party is known for its conservative stance on social issues, advocating for traditional family values and the preservation of Turkey's cultural and religious identity in the face of globalization and Western influence.<br /><br />Economically, the Felicity Party supports a model that seeks to balance free-market principles with state intervention to protect the vulnerable and ensure equitable economic development. It has been critical of neoliberal policies and the unchecked power of multinational corporations, arguing for a more humane economy that serves the needs of the people.<br /><br />In terms of foreign policy, the Felicity Party advocates for a peaceful and diplomatic approach to international relations, emphasizing the importance of Turkey's role in the Islamic world and advocating for solidarity among Muslim countries. It has been critical of Western intervention in the Middle East and supports finding solutions to conflicts in the region that respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.<br /><br />Despite its Islamist roots, the Felicity Party has made efforts to present itself as a broad-based conservative party that can appeal to a wider segment of Turkish society. It has participated in elections as part of various alliances, reflecting a pragmatic approach to politics in the highly polarized landscape of Turkey. However, its electoral success has been limited in the context of the dominance of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), which has managed to capture a significant portion of the conservative and Islamist vote since its rise to power in the early 2000s.<br /><br />Overall, the Felicity Party represents a continuity of the Islamist political tradition in Turkey, advocating for a society governed by moral and ethical principles derived from Islam, while also engaging with the democratic process and the realities of modern Turkish society.Read more