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Turkish society is becoming more conservative, survey suggests
10:03 - 09.08.11
The results of a recent poll by Yilmaz Esmer of Bahcesehir University
under the auspices of the 2011 World Values Survey suggest important
trends and changes in Turkish society, SETimes.com reported.
The survey finds that six out of ten people believe in the need for
more religious facts instead of science, 61% consider wearing a
swimming suit a sin, and nearly half of the respondents (44%) think
that restaurants should be closed during the fasting periods of
Ramadan.
Some experts say this religiosity is closely linked to the pro-Islamic
policies of the ruling AKP.
However, Sezin Oney, a journalist with the daily Taraf, tells SETimes
that conservatism has a broader social and political scope in Turkey
that extends beyond religion. She says nationalism, xenophobia and
intolerance towards diversity also play a part.
"Today, the AKP has an unprecedented political majority and Turkey has
a sociopolitical culture that adores power," she told SETimes, adding
that "the AKP is too pragmatic to promote a standardised social view
on any given issue."
Still, religious preferences, race and sexual preference are
significant factors in how people view their neighbours. The survey
found, for instance, that 84% of citizens do not want gay neighbours,
while 64%, 54%, and 48% do not wish to live next to an Atheist, Jew,
and Christian, respectively.
The survey also shows the extent to which domestic violence is
"internalised": 62% of the respondents - men and women - argue that
women should obey men, while 30% say that some women deserve spousal
abuse.
Murat Somer, associate professor of international relations at Koc
University and fellow at the Institute for International and Regional
Studies at Princeton University, says the survey results indicate that
despite socioeconomic development, Turkish society is not becoming
more open to diversity, pluralism and equality. "Instead, many people
are becoming more religious-conservative, patriarchal and open to
violence," he says.
The study also shows society's aversion to civic participation: 61% of
respondents would categorically refuse to sign a collective petition,
while 68% would not attend a peaceful demonstration.
According to Somer, these results reflect the public's hesitancy to
exercise basic democratic rights out of fear of the police, the
justice system, and the power of government.
Still, trust in government has ballooned from 29% in 2001, to 61% in
2011, which may be a reflection of the government's performance. Since
the 2001, the government has secured economic stability and growth,
increased civilian control over the military, and has been elected
three times.
Given these facts, Somer argues that the trust in the government could
be expected to be even higher, but significant segments of society
strongly oppose the governing party's political identity and some
policies.
In contrast, support for the military has steadily declined from a
high of 94% in 1996 to 75% today. There are significant regional
variations, with support above 90% in the western parts of the
country, but only 43% in the largely Kurdish populated southeast,
which has witnessed the brunt of the military's efforts to combat the
PKK for over three decades.
Somer says confrontations with the government, charges of conspiracy
and incompetence in the war against the PKK have led to the military's
declining popularity.
"In fact, trust in the military could have fallen more, but the image
of the Turkish military has traditionally been strong and some people
rely on the military because they distrust the government," he adds.
Tert.am
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
10:03 - 09.08.11
The results of a recent poll by Yilmaz Esmer of Bahcesehir University
under the auspices of the 2011 World Values Survey suggest important
trends and changes in Turkish society, SETimes.com reported.
The survey finds that six out of ten people believe in the need for
more religious facts instead of science, 61% consider wearing a
swimming suit a sin, and nearly half of the respondents (44%) think
that restaurants should be closed during the fasting periods of
Ramadan.
Some experts say this religiosity is closely linked to the pro-Islamic
policies of the ruling AKP.
However, Sezin Oney, a journalist with the daily Taraf, tells SETimes
that conservatism has a broader social and political scope in Turkey
that extends beyond religion. She says nationalism, xenophobia and
intolerance towards diversity also play a part.
"Today, the AKP has an unprecedented political majority and Turkey has
a sociopolitical culture that adores power," she told SETimes, adding
that "the AKP is too pragmatic to promote a standardised social view
on any given issue."
Still, religious preferences, race and sexual preference are
significant factors in how people view their neighbours. The survey
found, for instance, that 84% of citizens do not want gay neighbours,
while 64%, 54%, and 48% do not wish to live next to an Atheist, Jew,
and Christian, respectively.
The survey also shows the extent to which domestic violence is
"internalised": 62% of the respondents - men and women - argue that
women should obey men, while 30% say that some women deserve spousal
abuse.
Murat Somer, associate professor of international relations at Koc
University and fellow at the Institute for International and Regional
Studies at Princeton University, says the survey results indicate that
despite socioeconomic development, Turkish society is not becoming
more open to diversity, pluralism and equality. "Instead, many people
are becoming more religious-conservative, patriarchal and open to
violence," he says.
The study also shows society's aversion to civic participation: 61% of
respondents would categorically refuse to sign a collective petition,
while 68% would not attend a peaceful demonstration.
According to Somer, these results reflect the public's hesitancy to
exercise basic democratic rights out of fear of the police, the
justice system, and the power of government.
Still, trust in government has ballooned from 29% in 2001, to 61% in
2011, which may be a reflection of the government's performance. Since
the 2001, the government has secured economic stability and growth,
increased civilian control over the military, and has been elected
three times.
Given these facts, Somer argues that the trust in the government could
be expected to be even higher, but significant segments of society
strongly oppose the governing party's political identity and some
policies.
In contrast, support for the military has steadily declined from a
high of 94% in 1996 to 75% today. There are significant regional
variations, with support above 90% in the western parts of the
country, but only 43% in the largely Kurdish populated southeast,
which has witnessed the brunt of the military's efforts to combat the
PKK for over three decades.
Somer says confrontations with the government, charges of conspiracy
and incompetence in the war against the PKK have led to the military's
declining popularity.
"In fact, trust in the military could have fallen more, but the image
of the Turkish military has traditionally been strong and some people
rely on the military because they distrust the government," he adds.
Tert.am
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress