ИСТИНА

The current studies on global governance distinguish three main models of global governance mechanisms which differ by the actors engaged in the governance process: a state-centered model based on the intergovernmental cooperation, a mixed model that presumes that various combinations of state – transnational enterprises – global civil society interactions fulfill the global governance functions, and so to say private one which means that the global governance is mainly carried out by non-governmental actors. Most of studies focus on the economic issues of global governance leaving problems of ideology secondary at best. However modern global religious movement like Tablighi Jamaat or the Gülen Movement may represent an alternative model for global governance, which differ both in goals and methodology from the economic-centered ones. Against this background, the paper aims to analyze special features of global civil society activities focusing on the Turkish cemaats as a showcase. It seeks to answer to the following research question: what are the factors defining the rising influence of Turkish cemaats in Turkey and worldwide and what kind of influence they have on the normative frameworks of global governance? The paper also focuses on the problem of unequal receptions of democracy and civil society in non-western context which presumes that certain elements of civil society develop in accordance with the Western liberal paradigm while the others demonstrate unique development trajectories. Methodologically the paper utilizes system and comparative analysis with an emphasis on spatial approaches to civil society.