Nilüfer Göle (b. 1953, Ankara) is a Turkish sociologist known for her work on modernity, secularism and the visibility of Islam in the public sphere. Her research focuses particularly on processes of modernization the relationship between religion and the public sphere and the visibility of Muslim identities in modern societies.

Nilüfer Göle was born in Ankara in 1953. Her family origins trace back to the Göle district of Ardahan. She began her academic career in France and held positions at various research institutions before becoming a faculty member in the Department of Sociology at Boğaziçi University in Türkiye. She later joined the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris where she continued her research. She currently serves as director of research at the Raymond Aron Centre for Sociological and Political Research within EHESS.

Göle has also been a visiting faculty member at various universities and has participated in international research projects.

Nilüfer Göle completed her undergraduate studies at Middle East Technical University. She earned her master’s degree at the University of Paris and completed her doctorate in sociology at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS).

Nilüfer Göle’s research centers on modernity secularism and the visibility of Islam in the public sphere. Her work examines how Muslim identities are represented in modern public spaces and how these representations relate to social debates. The public visibility of Muslims in Europe headscarf debates and the relationship between religion and secularism are central themes in her studies.

In her work the concept of modernity is examined through diverse social and cultural contexts. This approach is linked to debates arguing that modernity should not be viewed solely as a Western experience.^【1】Her research is situated within sociological studies examining the relationship between religion secularism and the public sphere in the contexts of Türkiye and Europe.

Göle has also participated in research projects on the public visibility of Islam in Europe. These studies relate to investigations into the presence of religion in the public sphere and the role of cultural differences in social debates within European societies.

Nilüfer Göle’s work on modernity secularism and Islam has been published in numerous books and articles. Her major works include:

• Mühendisler ve İdeoloji
• The Forbidden Modern: Civilization and Veiling
• Islam in Public: Turkey Iran and Europe
• European Muslims in Daily Life