The Sustainability Crisis of Alevis

Makale

Künye:

Yazarlar:

Uğraş Ulaş TOL

Ekle

Emeği Geçenler:

Ekle

Yayın Yılı:

2009

Yayınlandığı Eser:

Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi

Cilt:

Sayı:

Sayfa Aralığı:

327

İçerik Dosyası:

Web adresi:

http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12610507/index.pdf

Operatör:

Esra Aydın

Güncelleyen:

Esra Aydın

Özet:

One of the important agendas of Turkeyin the 2000s has been the “Alevi Revival”.The subject of this thesis, which claims that Alevis are in a search of identity ratherthan in a period of revival, is the sustainability crisis of the Alevis. Aleviness whichhas not been mentioned in the political sphere before has now turned into frequentlyspoken phenomenon. In this “Open Aleviness” period Alevis felt themselves morefree and relieved and with this sense they started to claim more rights and freedoms.The most important and unexpected consequence of the period for the Alevis is theneed for an identification of Aleviness. When Alevis realized the distance they havewith Aleviness, they did not adopt different definitions of Aleviness made fromdifferent positions. Other identities of Alevis determine what kind of an Aleviness they would become. Nevertheless, while the variety of Aleviness understandings has increased, common points of different approaches have decreased. While Islamic Alevism which is one of the projects aiming at becoming hegemonic tries tosustain the tradition; the other one, Political Alevism refers to pressures and assaultsof the past. As long as the Alevi elites can generate projects of Alevism whichwould encapsulate the tradition but differentiate itself from Islam anddoes notcontradict with secularism; which could renew the traditional leadership; whichcould define positive elements; which have a mechanism of inclusion, and whosemembers will have the feeling of responsibility the sustainability crisis of Aleviness will deepen.