Research Article
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Hamas: Toplum, Silah ve Siyaset Üçgeninde Hareketin Dönüşüm Süreci

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 2, 193 - 214, 04.06.2025

Talha İsmail Duman

Abstract

Bu makale, Ortadoğu’nun en fazla tartışılan hareketlerinden biri olan Hamas’ın tarihsel dönüşümünü ele alarak, onun Filistin Müslüman Kardeşler hareketinin bir kolu olarak ortaya çıkışından itibaren nasıl sosyal, siyasi ve askeri alanlarda faaliyet gösteren çok yönlü bir yapıya evrildiğini incelemektedir. Çalışmada, süreç takibi yöntemi ve hareketlerin dönüşümüne dair vaka çalışmalarından elde edilen teorik çerçeveler kullanılarak, Hamas’ın yol haritasını şekillendiren yapısal, örgütsel ve ideolojik faktörler analiz edilmektedir. Bulgular, Hamas’ın başlangıçta toplumsal bir hareket olarak ortaya çıktığını, ancak değişen siyasi koşullar ve yapısal dinamikler nedeniyle zamanla askeri bir yapı geliştirdiğini ve ardından siyasi arenaya adım attığını göstermektedir. Bununla birlikte, Hamas’ın dönüşümü tek yönlü bir ılımlılaşma ya da tamamen askeri bir yapıya evrilme gibi keskin geçişlerden ziyade, siyasi yönetim, silahlı direniş ve toplumsal seferberlik arasında kurduğu dinamik ve çok boyutlu bir denge çerçevesinde şekillenmiştir. Çalışma, Hamas’ın siyasi katılımının hareketin stratejik önceliklerini yeniden yapılandırdığını, ancak işgal sürdüğü müddetçe askeri yapının hareketin temel bileşenlerinden biri olarak kalacağını öne sürmekte ve Hamas’ın toplumsal, siyasi ve askeri alanlarda eşzamanlı olarak faaliyet gösterme kapasitesinin, değişen bölgesel dinamikler karşısında direncini ve uyum kabiliyetini korumasını sağladığını ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

Hamas Filistin Gazze Direniş Toplumsal Hareket İslami Hareketler

References

  • 2006 PLC Elections Results. (2006). Central Elections Commission-Palestine. https://www.elections.ps/tabid/237/language/en-US/Default.aspx.
  • Abu-Amr, Z. (1994) Islamic Fundamentalism in the West Bank and Gaza: Muslim Brotherhood and Islamic Jihad. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
  • Abu-Amr, Z. (2007). Hamas. From Opposition to Rule. In Jamil Hilal (Ed.), Where now for Palestine? The demise of the two-state solution (pp. 167-187). London: Zed Books.
  • Al Arabiya. (June, 12, 2011). Crisis: Fatah wants Salam Fayyad as prime minister, Hamas rejects.
  • Alimi, E. Y. (2011). Relational dynamics in factional adoption of terrorist tactics: a comparative perspective. Theory and Society, 40, 95-118. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11186-010-9137-x
  • Al Jazeera. (February, 7, 2012). Abbas to head Palestinian unity government.
  • Awad, H. (2021). Understanding Hamas: Remarks on Three Different and Interrelated Theoretical Approaches. AlMuntaqa, 4(2), 42-62.
  • Berti, B. (2013). Armed Political Organizations: From Conflict to Integration. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
  • Berti, B. (2015). Non-State Actors as Providers of Governance: The Hamas Government in Gaza between Effective Sovereignty, Centralized Authority, and Resistance. Middle East Journal, 69(1), 9-31. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43698207
  • Berti, B. (2019). Rebel Groups between Adaptation and Ideological Continuity: The Impact of Sustained Political Participation. Government and Opposition, 54(3), 513-535. doi:10.1017/gov.2018.44
  • Bitton, R. (2019). Getting the right picture for the wrong reasons: intelligence analysis by Hezbollah and Hamas. Intelligence and National Security, 34(7), 1027-1044. https://doi.org/10.1080/02684527.2019.1668717
  • Brenner, B. (2017). Gaza Under Hamas: From Islamic Democracy to Islamist Governance. London: I. B. Tauris.
  • Cambanis, T. & Esfandiary, D. & Ghaddar, S. & Hanna, M. W. & Lund, A. & Mansour, R. (2019). Hybrid Actors: Armed Groups and State Fragmentation in the Middle East. New York: The Century Foundation Press.
  • Della Porta, D. (2006). Social movements, political violence, and the state: A comparative analysis or Italy and Germany. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Duhart, P. E. (2017). From armed group to movement: armed struggle and movement formation in Northern Ireland and the Basque Country. Social Movement Studies, 16(5), 535–548. https://doi.org/10.1080/14742837.2017.1319270
  • Dunning, T. (2015). Islam and resistance: Hamas, ideology and Islamic values in Palestine. Critical Studies on Terrorism, 8(2), 284-305. https://doi.org/10.1080/17539153.2015.1042304
  • Dunning, Tristan. (2016). Hamas, Jihad and Popular Legitimacy: Reinterpreting resistance in Palestine. New York: Routledge.
  • El Husseini, R. (2010). Hezbollah and the Axis of Refusal: Hamas, Iran and Syria. Third World Quarterly, 31(5), 803-815. https://doi.org/10.1080/01436597.2010.502695
  • George, A. & Bennett, A. (2005). Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.
  • Gleis, J. & Berti, B. (2012). Hezbollah and Hamas: A Comparative Study. Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press.
  • Gunning, J. (2007). Hamas in Politics: Democracy, Religion, Violence. London: Hurst.
  • Hazen, J. M. (2009). From Social Movement to Armed Group: A Case Study from Nigeria. Contemporary Security Policy, 30(2), 281-300. https://doi.org/10.1080/13523260903059906
  • Hroub, K. (2000). Hamas: Political Thought and Practice. Beirut: Institute for Palestine Studies.
  • Hroub, K. (2006a). A Beginner’s Guide. London: Pluto Press.
  • Hroub, K. (2006b). A “New Hamas” through Its New Documents”. Journal of Palestine Studies, 35(4), 6-27.
  • Hroub, K. (2013). Hamas. In Joel Peters & David Newman (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook on the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict (pp. 233-244). New York: Routledge
  • Hroub, K. (2017). A Newer Hamas? The Revised Charter. Journal of Palestine Studies, 46(4), 100–111. https://doi.org/10.1525/jps.2017.46.4.100.
  • Jefferis, J. (2016). Hamas: Terrorism, Governance, and Its Future in Middle East Politics. California: Praeger.
  • Koss, Maren. (2018). Resistance, Power, and Conceptions of Political Order in Islamist Organizations: Comparing Hezbollah and Hamas. London and New York: Routledge.
  • Levitt, M. (2006). Hamas: Politics, Charity, and Terrorism in the Service of Jihad. New Haven and London: Yale University Press.
  • Long, B. (2010). The Hamas Agenda: How Has It Changed?. Middle East Policy, 17(4), 131–143. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4967.2010.00467.x
  • Mercan, M. H. (2018). Süreklilik ve Değişim Bağlamında Hamas’ın Siyasal Stratejisi. Ortadoğu Etütleri, 10(1), 62-78.
  • Milton-Edwards, B. (1999). Islamic Politics in Palestine. New York: I.B. Tauris.
  • Mishal, S. & Sela, A. (2000). The Palestinian Hamas: Vision, Violence, and Coexistence. New York: Columbia University Press.
  • Natil, İ. (2015). Hamas Transformation: Opportunities and Challenges. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  • Rabbani, M. (2008). A Hamas Perspective of the Movement’s Evolving Role: An Interview with Khaled Mishal: Part II. Journal of Palestine Studies, 37(4), 59–81. https://doi.org/10.1525/jps.2008.37.4.59
  • Reuters. (October, 13, 2022). Palestinian rivals agree to hold elections but doubts persist.
  • Roy, S. (2011). Hamas and Civil Society in Gaza: Engaging the Islamist Social Sector. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
  • Söyler, M. (2021). Süreç Takibi Yöntemi: Nedensellik, Zamansallık, Kuram Geliştirme ve Kuram Testi. Liberal Düşünce Dergisi, 26(101), 67-94. https://doi.org/10.36484/liberal.871546.
  • Szekely, O. (2015). Doing Well by Doing Good: Understanding Hamas’s Social Services as Political Advertising. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 38(4), 275-292. https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610X.2014.995565
  • YDH. (May 3, 2017) Hamas'ın Siyaset Belgesi (Tam Metin).
  • Yetim, M. & Kalaycı, R. & Kaşıkçı, T. (2020). Ortadoğu’da Devlet Dışı Aktörler ve Arap Baharı: Müslüman Kardeşler, Hizbullah ve Hamas. Ankara: Orion Kitabevi.
  • Van Engeland, e & Rudolph R. M. (2008). From Terrorism to Politics. Aldershot: Ashgate.
  • Waldmann, P. (2005). The Radical Community: A Comparative Analysis of the Social Background of ETA, IRA, and Hezbollah. Sociologus, 55(2), 239-257. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43645553
  • Zollner, B. H. E. (2019). The metamorphosis of social movements into political parties. The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and the Tunisian al-Nahda as cases for a reflection on party institutionalisation theory. British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 48(3), 370–387. https://doi.org/10.1080/13530194.2019.1609413

The Transformation of Hamas: Evolution of the Movement within the Triangle of Society, Arms, and Politics

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 2, 193 - 214, 04.06.2025

Talha İsmail Duman

Abstract

This article examines the historical transformation of Hamas, one of the most debated movements in the Middle East, by tracing its evolution from the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood into a multifaceted organization operating across social, political, and military domains. Using the process-tracing method and theoretical insights from case studies on movement transformations, this study explores the structural, organizational, and ideological factors shaping Hamas’s trajectory. The findings suggest that while Hamas initially emerged as a social movement, shifting political conditions and external pressures necessitated the development of an armed wing and later a political structure. Rather than following a linear path toward moderation or militarization, Hamas has maintained a fluid strategy, balancing governance, resistance, and social mobilization. This study argues that Hamas’s political engagement has reshaped its strategic priorities, but as long as the occupation persists, its military apparatus will remain an integral part of its structure. Ultimately, Hamas’s ability to operate simultaneously across social, political, and military spheres has ensured its resilience and adaptability in an evolving regional landscape.

Keywords

Hamas Palestine Gaza Resistance Social Movement Islamic Movements

Ethical Statement

This article is based on the author’s Ph.D. thesis titled Political Integration of Islamic Movements in the Middle East: The Cases of Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, Hezbollah and Hamas.

References

  • 2006 PLC Elections Results. (2006). Central Elections Commission-Palestine. https://www.elections.ps/tabid/237/language/en-US/Default.aspx.
  • Abu-Amr, Z. (1994) Islamic Fundamentalism in the West Bank and Gaza: Muslim Brotherhood and Islamic Jihad. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
  • Abu-Amr, Z. (2007). Hamas. From Opposition to Rule. In Jamil Hilal (Ed.), Where now for Palestine? The demise of the two-state solution (pp. 167-187). London: Zed Books.
  • Al Arabiya. (June, 12, 2011). Crisis: Fatah wants Salam Fayyad as prime minister, Hamas rejects.
  • Alimi, E. Y. (2011). Relational dynamics in factional adoption of terrorist tactics: a comparative perspective. Theory and Society, 40, 95-118. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11186-010-9137-x
  • Al Jazeera. (February, 7, 2012). Abbas to head Palestinian unity government.
  • Awad, H. (2021). Understanding Hamas: Remarks on Three Different and Interrelated Theoretical Approaches. AlMuntaqa, 4(2), 42-62.
  • Berti, B. (2013). Armed Political Organizations: From Conflict to Integration. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
  • Berti, B. (2015). Non-State Actors as Providers of Governance: The Hamas Government in Gaza between Effective Sovereignty, Centralized Authority, and Resistance. Middle East Journal, 69(1), 9-31. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43698207
  • Berti, B. (2019). Rebel Groups between Adaptation and Ideological Continuity: The Impact of Sustained Political Participation. Government and Opposition, 54(3), 513-535. doi:10.1017/gov.2018.44
  • Bitton, R. (2019). Getting the right picture for the wrong reasons: intelligence analysis by Hezbollah and Hamas. Intelligence and National Security, 34(7), 1027-1044. https://doi.org/10.1080/02684527.2019.1668717
  • Brenner, B. (2017). Gaza Under Hamas: From Islamic Democracy to Islamist Governance. London: I. B. Tauris.
  • Cambanis, T. & Esfandiary, D. & Ghaddar, S. & Hanna, M. W. & Lund, A. & Mansour, R. (2019). Hybrid Actors: Armed Groups and State Fragmentation in the Middle East. New York: The Century Foundation Press.
  • Della Porta, D. (2006). Social movements, political violence, and the state: A comparative analysis or Italy and Germany. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Duhart, P. E. (2017). From armed group to movement: armed struggle and movement formation in Northern Ireland and the Basque Country. Social Movement Studies, 16(5), 535–548. https://doi.org/10.1080/14742837.2017.1319270
  • Dunning, T. (2015). Islam and resistance: Hamas, ideology and Islamic values in Palestine. Critical Studies on Terrorism, 8(2), 284-305. https://doi.org/10.1080/17539153.2015.1042304
  • Dunning, Tristan. (2016). Hamas, Jihad and Popular Legitimacy: Reinterpreting resistance in Palestine. New York: Routledge.
  • El Husseini, R. (2010). Hezbollah and the Axis of Refusal: Hamas, Iran and Syria. Third World Quarterly, 31(5), 803-815. https://doi.org/10.1080/01436597.2010.502695
  • George, A. & Bennett, A. (2005). Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.
  • Gleis, J. & Berti, B. (2012). Hezbollah and Hamas: A Comparative Study. Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press.
  • Gunning, J. (2007). Hamas in Politics: Democracy, Religion, Violence. London: Hurst.
  • Hazen, J. M. (2009). From Social Movement to Armed Group: A Case Study from Nigeria. Contemporary Security Policy, 30(2), 281-300. https://doi.org/10.1080/13523260903059906
  • Hroub, K. (2000). Hamas: Political Thought and Practice. Beirut: Institute for Palestine Studies.
  • Hroub, K. (2006a). A Beginner’s Guide. London: Pluto Press.
  • Hroub, K. (2006b). A “New Hamas” through Its New Documents”. Journal of Palestine Studies, 35(4), 6-27.
  • Hroub, K. (2013). Hamas. In Joel Peters & David Newman (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook on the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict (pp. 233-244). New York: Routledge
  • Hroub, K. (2017). A Newer Hamas? The Revised Charter. Journal of Palestine Studies, 46(4), 100–111. https://doi.org/10.1525/jps.2017.46.4.100.
  • Jefferis, J. (2016). Hamas: Terrorism, Governance, and Its Future in Middle East Politics. California: Praeger.
  • Koss, Maren. (2018). Resistance, Power, and Conceptions of Political Order in Islamist Organizations: Comparing Hezbollah and Hamas. London and New York: Routledge.
  • Levitt, M. (2006). Hamas: Politics, Charity, and Terrorism in the Service of Jihad. New Haven and London: Yale University Press.
  • Long, B. (2010). The Hamas Agenda: How Has It Changed?. Middle East Policy, 17(4), 131–143. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4967.2010.00467.x
  • Mercan, M. H. (2018). Süreklilik ve Değişim Bağlamında Hamas’ın Siyasal Stratejisi. Ortadoğu Etütleri, 10(1), 62-78.
  • Milton-Edwards, B. (1999). Islamic Politics in Palestine. New York: I.B. Tauris.
  • Mishal, S. & Sela, A. (2000). The Palestinian Hamas: Vision, Violence, and Coexistence. New York: Columbia University Press.
  • Natil, İ. (2015). Hamas Transformation: Opportunities and Challenges. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  • Rabbani, M. (2008). A Hamas Perspective of the Movement’s Evolving Role: An Interview with Khaled Mishal: Part II. Journal of Palestine Studies, 37(4), 59–81. https://doi.org/10.1525/jps.2008.37.4.59
  • Reuters. (October, 13, 2022). Palestinian rivals agree to hold elections but doubts persist.
  • Roy, S. (2011). Hamas and Civil Society in Gaza: Engaging the Islamist Social Sector. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
  • Söyler, M. (2021). Süreç Takibi Yöntemi: Nedensellik, Zamansallık, Kuram Geliştirme ve Kuram Testi. Liberal Düşünce Dergisi, 26(101), 67-94. https://doi.org/10.36484/liberal.871546.
  • Szekely, O. (2015). Doing Well by Doing Good: Understanding Hamas’s Social Services as Political Advertising. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 38(4), 275-292. https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610X.2014.995565
  • YDH. (May 3, 2017) Hamas'ın Siyaset Belgesi (Tam Metin).
  • Yetim, M. & Kalaycı, R. & Kaşıkçı, T. (2020). Ortadoğu’da Devlet Dışı Aktörler ve Arap Baharı: Müslüman Kardeşler, Hizbullah ve Hamas. Ankara: Orion Kitabevi.
  • Van Engeland, e & Rudolph R. M. (2008). From Terrorism to Politics. Aldershot: Ashgate.
  • Waldmann, P. (2005). The Radical Community: A Comparative Analysis of the Social Background of ETA, IRA, and Hezbollah. Sociologus, 55(2), 239-257. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43645553
  • Zollner, B. H. E. (2019). The metamorphosis of social movements into political parties. The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and the Tunisian al-Nahda as cases for a reflection on party institutionalisation theory. British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 48(3), 370–387. https://doi.org/10.1080/13530194.2019.1609413
There are 45 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects International Politics
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Talha İsmail Duman 0000-0001-7638-2082

Publication Date June 4, 2025
Submission Date July 13, 2024
Acceptance Date March 11, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 15 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Duman, T. İ. (2025). The Transformation of Hamas: Evolution of the Movement within the Triangle of Society, Arms, and Politics. İnsan Ve Toplum, 15(2), 193-214. https://doi.org/10.12658/M0767
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