Yusuf Sarfati is an assistant Professor of Politics and Government at Illinois State University where he has taught on the comparative politics of the Middle East since 2009. He is also the Director of the Middle Eastern and South Asian minor program at ISU.

"This book is an important step forward in understanding one of the most prominent and influential socio-political phenomena today. The ongoing rise of religious parties and social movements worldwide makes Sarfati’s analysis especially pertinent, as there is little doubt that the future of human society depends on how these developments play out." - Michal L. Allon, PhD, Tel Aviv University, Israel"Mobilizing Religion in Middle East Politics deserves special attention as an alternative reading to the moderation of religious political parties in Middle East. It will appeal to students, area specialists, and anyone interested in political parties and religious movements."- Hakki Tas, Insight Turkey

• 1 Introduction 2 Theoretical Framework 3 Setting the Stage: The Creation and Politicization of Sociocultural Cleavages in Israel and Turkey 4 State Incorporation of Shas as Expanding Political Opportunity 5 State Incorporation of Religious Actors in Turkey in 1970s and 80s 6 The Politics of Shas 7 The Rise, Fall and Transformation of Political Islam in Turkey: from the 1990s to 2012 8 Politics of Religious Schooling 9 Conclusion

Yusuf Sarfati is an assistant Professor of Politics and Government at Illinois State University where he has taught on the comparative politics of the Middle East since 2009. He is also the Director of the Middle Eastern and South Asian minor program at ISU.

"This book is an important step forward in understanding one of the most prominent and influential socio-political phenomena today. The ongoing rise of religious parties and social movements worldwide makes Sarfati’s analysis especially pertinent, as there is little doubt that the future of human society depends on how these developments play out." - Michal L. Allon, PhD, Tel Aviv University, Israel"Mobilizing Religion in Middle East Politics deserves special attention as an alternative reading to the moderation of religious political parties in Middle East. It will appeal to students, area specialists, and anyone interested in political parties and religious movements."- Hakki Tas, Insight Turkey

• 1 Introduction 2 Theoretical Framework 3 Setting the Stage: The Creation and Politicization of Sociocultural Cleavages in Israel and Turkey 4 State Incorporation of Shas as Expanding Political Opportunity 5 State Incorporation of Religious Actors in Turkey in 1970s and 80s 6 The Politics of Shas 7 The Rise, Fall and Transformation of Political Islam in Turkey: from the 1990s to 2012 8 Politics of Religious Schooling 9 Conclusion