A STUDY ON CIVIL SOCIETY AND NATIONALISM: THE CASE STUDY OF HOMETOWN ASSOCIATIONS

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2022-12
Sayılgan, İrem
This thesis aims to understand how the regional identity around hemşehrilik (regional bond) relations is imagined within hometown associations (HTAs) as part of civil society in Turkey. This research claims that there is an unexcavated relationship between civil society and nationalism in Turkey. In order to understand such relationality, three HTAs of Şebinkarahisar/Giresun have been chosen. HTAs were overlooked over the years in civil society literature because of their primordial characteristics, which arguably do not fulfil the premises expected from well-functioning civil society. Therefore, to understand position of HTAs in civil society in Turkey, firstly, the reasons for the emergence of HTAs in Turkey are presented. Secondly, it is argued that HTAs create a distinct form of regional identity from their rural counterparts while altering what hemşehrilik relations entail through reimagining the identity. Thirdly, the current functions of HTAs as CSOs are presented. Fourthly, it has been attempted to understand how research participants perceive HTAs as part of civil society. Fifthly, fluid and contextual identification processes for defining hemşehris under the roof of HTAs are demonstrated. Lastly, it is argued that even though HTAs essentially attract attention to their reproduction and reimagination of hemşehrilik relations, those processes have been profoundly influenced by nationalism. Conceptualization of hemşehrilik is not independent from nationalist discourses which can be produced in civil society.

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Citation Formats
İ. Sayılgan, “A STUDY ON CIVIL SOCIETY AND NATIONALISM: THE CASE STUDY OF HOMETOWN ASSOCIATIONS,” M.S. - Master of Science, Middle East Technical University, 2022.