Alevi Visibility in Turkey: Processes of Disenchantment Since 2000s

Alevi is the name of a community generally in conflict with Sunnis and which is both socially and politically opposed to the Sunni based social system. Their actual beliefs and ritual practices are totally different and they are oppositional group for Sunnis. Especially since the 2000s, Alevis and Alevism of which leftist ideology hopefully embraced became important than ever and added a different dimension to Alevism. Also it was emphasized that Alevism was superior Sunnis as Sunnis was seen as a violent, bigot, a radical sect while Alevism was seen as a humanist, equitable, modern belief. It is clear that Alevis have been influenced negatively by this situation. Although they were taken into much consideration in certain time periods by their public visibility, these periods lasted in a short time and they are left all alone as they became politicized.

Autorentext

Nurullah Gündüz is a doctor in sociology at Fatih University. He has a M.A and Ph.D degrees in sociology. His area interests are Alevism, Sociology of Space, Muslim Middle Class, Spatial Segregation. Still he is teaching Urban Sociology, Social Class and Stratification, Turkish Society and Culture.