Understanding Current Alevism: A Field Research in Ankara, Turkey

Abstract

Anthropology is a discipline that attempts to understand the human condition epistemologically. Concepts such as ethnicity or identity keep framing these studies. Alevism is one of those which is called ethnoreligious. However, Alevism has assumed different meanings according to regions and countries in the historical process. Discussions about what Alevism is have increased, especially in recent years. Different sources feed these discussions. Against the insistence on defining Alevism within the borders determined by the governments in Turkey and the discourse that ignores social diversity in general, Alevism feels the need to return to its resources, especially the historical and sociological studies of Alevi intellectuals, to seek a solution to this identity crisis. On the other hand, the organized Alevi movement, which has achieved various gains in Europe, expresses more confidently their demands for the rights of Alevis in Turkey, and they are also on the agenda in the country from time to time. The participants are Turks who do not have connections with Alevi organizations, do not have access to written sources of Alevism, and whose socialization spaces are usually their village associations in the city. Although their views sometimes show parallelism with the studies that seek the “essence/history” of Alevism, they also create unique ways of conveying the principles and philosophy of their beliefs and diversify their interpretations of Alevism. These interpretations sometimes have features that stretch the boundaries of traditional discourses.