The Problem of Cultural Diversity against the Idea of National Unity in Turkey

ÖZET Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devleti dinsel, dilsel, etnik, mezhepsel açıdan farklı kültürel kimliklere sahip toplumsal grupların yaşadığı bir devlettir. Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devleti’nde dinsel kimliğini önemli gören Müslümanlar için başörtüsü, Kürt etnik kimliğini önemli gören bazı Kürtler için ise Kürtçe kültürel kimlik sembolleridir. Bazı Alevîler ise Alevî kültürünün yaşatılabildiği mekân olarak gördükleri cemevini dinsel ve kültürel kimliklerini simgeleyen önemli bir sembol olarak öne çıkarmaya çalışmışlardır. Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devleti’nde uzun yıllar boyunca bu kültürel kimlik sembollerine yönelik ret politikaları uygulanmıştır. Ancak son yıllarda bu politikalarda değişikliğe gidilmiş; bu kültürel kimlik sembollerinin kamusal alandaki görünürlüğüne yönelik daha demokratik resmî yaklaşımlar sergilenmiştir. Bu çalışmada bu demokratik yaklaşımlar kuramsal düzeyde incelenmekte ve mevcut durumun millî birlik ideali açısından uygunluğu tartışılmaktadır. Çalışmada Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devleti’nde gelecekte millî birlik ve üniter bütünlük sorunu yaşanmamasına daha fazla katkı getirebileceğine inanılan politika önerileri de sunulmaktadır. ABSTRACT The State of the Republic of Turkey is a state in which social groups with different cultural identities in terms of religion, linguistic, ethnic and sectarian are living. The headscarf is an important symbol of cultural identity for Muslims who see their religious identity as important in the State of the Republic of Turkey. Kurdish is an important symbol of cultural identity for Kurdish people who see Kurdish ethnic identity as important in the State of the Republic of Turkey. Some Alevis have attempted to bring the cemevi, which they regard as the place where Alevism culture can be experienced as an important symbol symbolizing their religious and cultural identities. For many years in the State of the Republic of Turkey, rejection policies have been applied to these symbols of cultural identity. However, in recent years these politics have been changed; more democratic formal approaches to the public appearance of these cultural identity symbols have been exhibited. This study examines these democratic approaches at the theoretical level and discusses the appropriateness of the current situation in terms of the ideal of national unity. The study also presents a policy recommendation that believes that the State of the Republic of Turkey can make a greater contribution to the future of national unity and unity of integrity.The State of the Republic of Turkey is a state in which social groups with different cultural identities in terms of religion, linguistic, ethnic and sectarian are living. The headscarf is an important symbol of cultural identity for Muslims who see their religious identity as important in the State of the Republic of Turkey. Kurdish is an important symbol of cultural identity for Kurdish people who see Kurdish ethnic identity as important in the State of the Republic of Turkey. Some Alevis have attempted to bring the cemevi, which they regard as the place where Alevism culture can be experienced as an important symbol symbolizing their religious and cultural identities. For many years in the State of the Republic of Turkey, rejection policies have been applied to these symbols of cultural identity. However, in recent years these politics have been changed; more democratic formal approaches to the public appearance of these cultural identity symbols have been exhibited. This studyexamines these democratic approaches at the theoretical level and discusses the appropriateness of the current situation in terms of the ideal of national unity. The study also presents a policy recommendation that believes that the State of the Republic of Turkey can make a greater contribution to the future of national unity and unity of integrity