VOLUNTEERISM’S CULTURAL-PHILOSOPHICAL ROOTS FROM TURKESTAN TO ANATOLIA

Abstract

This study investigates the origins of volunteerism across diverse socio-economic systems, underscoring its critical role in contemporary civil society. Volunteerism constitutes a dynamic process that cultivates civic consciousness, fosters individual self-awareness, and strengthens civil society structures. By promoting universal ethical values and patriotism, it enhances societal capacity. This article examines the philosophical and social dimensions of volunteerism as a cornerstone of Kazakh civil society, employing methods such as analysis, classification, induction-deduction, and comparative approaches. It evaluates the developmental trajectories, achievements, and challenges of the volunteer movement, delineating its content, characteristics, and qualities through comprehensive literature analysis. The study explores the influence of Turkestan’s volunteerism, rooted in Khoja Ahmet Yesevi’s teachings, on Anatolia’s Alevi-Bektāshiyya tradition and foundation culture. Findings offer theoretical and practical insights for youth, civil society actors, and policymakers, facilitating a systems-oriented approach to promoting volunteerism.

Keywords

• Volunteerism
• Kazakhstan
• Turkestan
• Anatolia
• Khoja Ahmet Yesevi
• Haji Bektash Veli

TÜRKISTAN’DAN ANADOLU’YA GÖNÜLLÜLÜĞÜN KÜLTÜREL-FELSEFI KÖKLERI

Abstract

Bu çalışma, farklı sosyo-ekonomik sistemlerde gönüllülük olgusunun kökenlerini araştırarak, çağdaş sivil toplumdaki kritik rolünü vurgular. Gönüllülük, yurttaşlık bilincini geliştiren, bireysel öz-farkındalığı teşvik eden ve sivil toplum yapılarını güçlendiren dinamik bir süreçtir. Evrensel etik değerleri ve vatanseverliği teşvik ederek toplumsal kapasiteyi artırır. Makale, Kazakistan sivil toplumunun temel bir unsuru olarak gönüllülüğün felsefi ve sosyal boyutlarını inceler; analiz, sınıflandırma, tümevarım-tümdengelim ve karşılaştırmalı yöntemler kullanır. Gönüllü hareketinin gelişim yörüngeleri, başarıları ve zorlukları değerlendirilir; içeriği, özellikleri ve nitelikleri kapsamlı literatür analiziyle tanımlanır. Türkistan’daki gönüllülük, Hoca Ahmet Yesevi’nin öğretileriyle şekillenerek, Anadolu’daki Alevi-Bektaşi geleneği ve vakıf kültürüne etki etmiştir. Bulgular, gençler, sivil toplum aktörleri ve politika yapıcılar için teorik ve pratik içgörüler sunar, gönüllülüğün teşvikinde sistem odaklı bir yaklaşıma katkı sağlar.

Keywords

• Gönüllülük
• Kazakistan
• Türkistan
• Anadolu
• Hoca Ahmet Yesevi
• Hacı Bektaş Veli

References

1. Agirbov, S. R., & Skazko, A. S. “Volunteering: Ethical Aspect.” Society and Civilization in the XXI Century: Trends and Prospects for Development 4/8 (2014): 69-71.
2. Akhmetova, Indira & Karipbayev, Baizhol. “Volunteerism: Historical and Axiological Analysis.” Bulletin of the Karaganda University. Series History, Philosophy 1/105 (2022): 189–197. https://doi.org/10.31489/2022hph1/189-197
3. Akhmetova, Indira & Ateş, Ömer Faruk. “Kazakistan’ın Manevi Zirvesi Hoca Ahmet Yesevi.” Tarihi, Ormanları, Turizmi, Basını, Maneviyatı ve Şiiri ile Ulu Türkistan. Ed. Orhan Söylemez, Ümmügülsüm Korkmaz & İndira Akhmetova, 153-161. Ankara: Bengü Yayınları, 2022.
4. Avtonomov, A. S. “Volunteering as a Factor in the Development of Civil Society and Social Innovation.” The Contours of Global Transformations: Politics, Economics, Law 6/38 (2014): 92-109.
5. Aydnalieva, N. A., Li, E. D., & Zhandauova, Sh. E. (2020). Volunteering as a factor in development of students’ civic consciousness. Bulletin of the Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University. Series Pedagogical Sciences, 2(66), 154–160.
6. Beisekova, R. T., & Zholdasbek, A. S. “Study of Current Trends in the Volunteer Movement of the Republic of Kazakhstan.” In Proceedings of the Astana Sociological Forum Dedicated to the Day of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan: International Scientific- Practical Conference. Nur-Sultan: L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, 2015.
7. Bondartsova, T. M., Soltan, & M. S., Nurgaliev, T. M. “The Role of Volunteering in the Formation and Development of Civil Society in Modern Kazakhstani Society.” In A New Look at the Education System: Proceedings of the III International Scientific and Practical Conference, 10–15. Prokopyevsk: Prokopyevsk Branch of the Kemerovo State University, 2021.
8. Hustinx, L., & Lammertyn, F. (2003). Collective and reflexive styles of volunteering: A sociological modernization perspective. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 14(2), 167–187. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023948027200 Kapustnyk, V., & Letik, I. (2021). Some aspects of volunteering in educational work with medical students. New Collegium, 1(103), 54-57.

9. Khamzina, A. “Volunteering as a Factor of Spiritual and Moral Education in Kazakhstan.” Helping Professions: Scientific Evidence and Innovative Technologies 6 (2016): 643-648.
10. Köprülü, Mehmet Fuat. Early Mystics in Turkish Literature: Ahmed Yesevi, Yunus Emre, and the Roots of Anatolian Sufism. Trans. Gary Leiser ve Robert Dankoff. London: Routledge, 2006.
11. Krivenko, Yu. V. “Volunteering as the Foundation of Civil Society.” In Legal Life of Modern Ukraine: Materials of the International and Practical Conference, 433-435. Odesa: Helvetica, 2020.
12. Lugovaya, E. A. “Philosophical Foundations of Volunteering.” Historical, Philosophical, Political and Legal Sciences, Cultural Studies and Art History. Questions of Theory and Practice 7/2 (2011): 138-140.
13. Nasr, Seyyed Hossein. The Garden of Truth: The Vision and Promise of Sufism, Islam’s Mystical Tradition. San Francisco: HarperOne, 2006.
14. Ocak, Ahmet Yaşar. Alevi ve Bektaşi İnançlarının İslam Öncesi Temelleri. İstanbul: İletişim Yayınları, 2011.
15. Shah, Idries. The Sufis. New York: Anchor Books, 1971.
16. Talko, Tatyana. “Volunteering as a Form of Charitable Activity of Neo-Religious Organizations in Dnipro: Socio-Philosophical Analysis.” Versus 2/10 (2017): 62–67.
17. Tatarintseva, Natalia & Zelinskaya, Marina. “Socio-Cultural Context of Older Preschool Children’s Initiative Development on the Basis of Volunteer Activities.” E3S Web of Conferences 220 (2020): 18074. 10.1051/e3sconf/202021018074
18. Yesevi, Ahmet. Diwani Hikmet. Top. jane qazaq tiline aud. Qanat Qari & Gaziza Qambarbekova. Astana: Gylym, 2015.