“The Gezi generation”: Analyzing social formation of a generation through its collective memories

Date

2026-3-12

Author

Arık, Gözde

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This dissertation explores the formation of a generation, namely "the Gezi Generation" in Turkey through generation theory of Karl Mannheim‘s and theories of collective memory. By adopting these theoretical perspectives and depending on qualitative field study, the study argues that a generation is not merely a biological age group or birth cohort but a dynamic social formation which evolves from "location" to "actuality" through shared mnemonic practices. While doing this, the study builds upon a tripartite analytical strategy that orchestrates structural, interpretive and critical perspectives to analyze generational formation. At the structural pillar, the study establishes socio-historical ground by employing purposeful sampling to map the contingent historical exposure of the generation by specifically focusing on university students who experienced their "fresh contact" in early 2010s. At the interpretive pillar, the study utilizes collective memory theories as hermeneutic tool to decode recollections regarding early 2010s at both the analytical levels of "generational location" and "generational actuality". At the critical pillar, the study positions the findings through a critical lens by arguing how the collective feelings of "loss" and "in-betweenness" are shaped by the social constraints. The thesis states that the Gezi Generation is not a monolithic entity defined solely by political engagement, but a complex social formation characterized by specific collective memories that distinguish it from the '68 and '78 generations in Turkey. By introducing two original concepts "remembered conjuncture" and "mnemonic commons", this research updates Mannhemian theory of generations and contributes to sociological understanding of generational formations in contemporary Turkey.

Subject Keywords

The Gezi generation, Karl Mannheim, social formation, collective memory, generation

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/118773

Collections

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Thesis