Transformation of Conservative and Religious Tradesmen in Turkey

This study investigates the transformation of conservative and religious tradesmen in Turkey with emphases on:(a)the role of religious values within the free market economy; (b)the work ethics of religious tradesmen and (c)the transformation process of religious values within the current economic system. The thesis of Weber on the relationships between religious values and the rational capitalism was examined to understand the work ethics and the religious values of tradesmen. The opinions of Weber, Rodinson and Ulgener about the causes of the nonexistence of a rational capitalism in the Islamic world were evaluated throughout the study. In this respect, the emergence and the development of the Muslim guilds and petty bourgeoisie within the traditional Islamic societies were also studied. The research results suggest that the incorporation into the free market economy brings about the transformation the religious economic convictions or values. Therefore, the chance of survival and the applicability of such religious values within this economic system seem to be impossible. They rather seem to be involved in a transformation and adaptation process in the free market economy.