106.19
Ethnic Identities and Conciousness of University Students from Turkey in the Metropolitanization Process
Dr. A. Çağlar DENİZ, Usak University
Key Words: Ethnic Identities, Youth, Adjustment , Metropolitanization
Abstract:
Turkey hosts lots of ethnic groups. All ethnic groups in the research sample are Muslims traditionally and they are distinct from the classical perception of minority in Turkey which is given with international agreements such as Lozan. This research has used qualitative research methods.
University youth coming from rural areas and small or medium sized cities to Istanbul, it is called the only metropolitan city in Turkey, have been involved to a metropolization process. Each ethnic group's experiment is unique and different than others. For example, Kurdish young people have developed an ethnic pride attitude about their identity. They involved to learn academic Kurdish language, try to speak to each other in Kurdish language and appropiate the Kurdish literature and history as parts of their national identity. This attitude could be regarded a very modern, it aims to a nation construction in a constructed nation.
Arab people have strong relations with other parts of Arab world. They use their language opportunity to communicate and make a trade with them. But Arab youth studying in metropolitan universities have a weak relation with their mother language. Most of them understand Arab language but they can not speak it fluently. The young Arab people in Turkey tend to assimilate to the Turkish community whether Alawites or Sunnis.
Laz people and Greek spoken Muslims have shared same lands. They live on the coast or Black Sea. They have unique languages and communicate with them to each other in their special community. But they tend to assmilate to Turkish community, and most of them are very proud to be a Turk, although they have disparate ethnical roots.