Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku International Multiculturalism Centre Azerbaijani Multiculturalism Textbook for Higher Education

7.12. Multiculturalism in Turkey

Multiculturalism, which is applied to different areas in Western countries, occurs in the context of political and sociological language practices. Expressions occur at the societal level. Expression reveals meaning, and thus societies build links between

458 existing symbols and meanings. The meanings attributed to

multiculturalism, in accordance with other concepts used in the social sciences, arise from the academic and intellectual stratum, or rather academic and intellectual interests. Just as there is no single truth, an expression cannot be created by a single group. There are different ways of expression created by different groups. This is the crucial factor behind the concept, widespread in social sciences, that societal events cannot be understood in terms of just one cause.

From the political point of view, multiculturalism has different theoretical and practical aspects in the context of the historical and social realities of different countries. There are those who support the expression of multiculturalism and those who do not.

Various changes related to various ways of thinking have occurred in the evolution of multiculturalism in Turkey. The purpose of multiculturalism in Turkey lies in the expression of it. In this sense, in Turkey multiculturalism is in the background of society and is shaped in accordance with societal changes and requirements. While the theory of multiculturalism takes a back seat, the concept expresses the demands for equality among different cultures and minority languages, religions and ethnic groups and is emphasized in the words ‘recognition’ or ‘multicultural citizenship’. So while this is a theoretical concept, it is also extremely important in the practical sphere. In general, multiculturalism in the oriental countries is applied to different spheres; therefore its political and sociological aspects are different.

Several geographical, political and social factors have played a determinant role in the birth of academic and intellectual interest in multiculturalism in Turkey. Particularly, consideration of minorities, the concept of the nation and ideas of nationhood are a more modern trend in Turkey than in the past.

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The political assessment of national minorities in Turkey puts greater stress on religious differences than ethnic differences, while diversity can be seen in the minorities’ own assessments. Discussions on multiculturalism in Turkey are centred on both national minorities and cultural diversity. There is a mosaic of cultures in the geography of Anatolia today.

Since 2000 discussions of multiculturalism in Turkey have given priority to the notion of Turkishness as an identity. In the modern understanding of nation in Turkey, Turkishness, being part of Turkey, applies to all national minorities and ethnic groups in the geographical area, as opposed to Turkicness (being a Turk). Publication of a report of the Prime Minister’s Human Rights Advisory Commission’s Working Group on the Rights of Minorities and Cultural Realities in 2004 started a range of discussions on the subject. The debate on multiculturalism sparked by this report was of great significance.

An important difference between Turkey and the West is that the Western countries were subject to migration at every stage of history. Particularly after World War II migrants streamed to Europe. They were Westerners, who had lived in the colonies, and local people from the colonial counties that had gained their independence. This mass migration developed a multicultural society, particularly in Europe and America. While Turkey was not subject to such waves of migration, diverse national minorities and ethnic groups were appreciated in the context of a unitary state. In comparison with the Western countries Turkey reached the nation-state stage very late. In parallel there are fears and criticisms that multiculturalism and diversity could threaten unity and equality in the country. At the same time claims that Turkey is a country of many cultures pursue a political­ purpose. According to those who defend this idea, the history of Turkish culture does not include the division into ‘I’ and ‘other’. They see this division as arising

from Western history; in other words, the West creates its own discrimination. In Turkey ‘we’ rather than ‘I’ is at the forefront, and ‘I’ divides ‘we’.

The influence of the report ‘On the Rights of Minorities’ in discussions on multiculturalism in Turkey is undeniable, raising the idea of Turkishness and cultural diversity. The idea of Turkishness was a political tool and ideology in the Ottoman period, aimed at integrating into the empire the minorities who wanted to leave the empire. The ideology of Turkishness as discussed in political and intellectual circles from the early 2000s centred on the idea of an overarching Turkish identity for the minorities and cultures within the borders of the country.

Academic discussions on multiculturalism in Turkey can be divided into two categories: one is against the notion of multiculturalism, and the other is in favour. Among the arguments cited by the opponents of multiculturalism is that diversity could create problems in the social sphere and that Turkishness could damage the national and spiritual unity of the country, as it had many times in the past. Supporters of multiculturalism appreciate the Canadian practice of it. Problems may be overcome if steps are taken in democratization associated with national minorities and diverse ethnic groups. Accelerating the process of democratization before joining the European Union may enable the country to solve the cultural and language problems of national minorities and ethnic groups.

Multiculturalism in Turkey has emerged on the basis of identity. Particularly since 1990 the demands for diversity of different national minorities and ethnic groups have become topical in the socio-political sphere. At the same time, in the 1990s, the parties and public associations, which were based on the concept of the nation state, were subject to change in

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parallel with new developments in the political field. This change led to the emergence of new factors, instead of the solutions put forward by the central parties. In a sense, the central parties have created a situation where the demands of diversity can be heard instead of nationalist and centralist expressions, and where many different factors have developed and can be used as a tool of multiculturalism. This tendency, which can also be interpreted in terms of post modernism, is important in shaping discussion of multiculturalism and ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity.