Darwin in the Turkish Parliament: Darwinism and Political Rhetoric in the Post-1997 Era

Abstract

Since its inception, Darwin's theory of evolution has transcended the confines of biology and has drawn the attention of numerous worldviews. In Turkish politics, debates surrounding Darwinism have been particularly intense, centering on its potential implications for international relations, its bearing on humanity's ontological place in the universe, its position vis-& agrave;-vis religion, and its alleged role in the tragedies of the twentieth century, especially in relation to Darwin's views on Turks. Through an analysis of parliamentary minutes, written questions, and responses to parliamentary inquiries from 1997 onwards, this article investigates how the theory has been discussed in the Turkish Parliament.