Alevis and the JDP: from cautious or neutral relations to open conflict

Year 2014, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 63 - 77, 31.12.2014

Ayşegül Akdemir

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between Turkey’s Alevi community and the ruling
Justice and Development Party (JDP), which has been in power in Turkey since 2002. I
explore this relationship using van Dijk’s critical discourse analysis. The statements by the
government, as well as the Alevi associations’ responses are discussed; in addition, I use my
fieldwork material, which was collected from July 2012 to August 2013 in Istanbul and
London. I demonstrate that the relationship between the JDP and the Alevi community has
changed over the years from neutral or cautious into tense and conflicting. The mere increase
in the public visibility of Alevis did not improve their rights and in order to restore the
relationship, Alevis’ demands need to be evaluated on a civic-legal basis and various Alevi
actors need to be included in the decision making process.

Keywords

Turkey, Alevis, JDP, critical discourse analysis, minorities

References

• Epstein RA, Sedelmeier U. (2008). Beyond conditionality: international institutions in postcommunist Europe after enlargement. J Eur Public Policy 15(6):795–805. (doi:10.1080/13501760802196465)