The Diminishing Agency of Urbanised Alevis Against the Rise of Political Islam in Turkey

This paper critically examines the diminishing agency of first-urbanised Alevi generation vis- à-vis Justice and Development Party (AKP) their sectarian agenda mediated by political Islam. The conceptual position is underpinned Foucault’s concept governmentality theory in broader cultural terms. These theoretical frameworks interweave to present a rich complex set snapshots that document generation’s decreasing possibilities action urban context. Accordingly, empirical data informs this piece has been collected series qualitative semi-structured interviews with generation, children those who migrated areas 1960s wittingly or unwittingly kept identities undisclosed varying degrees. Those interviewed come from range different professional backgrounds, only common point being they have spent childhoods adult years Istanbul, Turkey. Through close engagement material, addresses effects AKP’s Sunnification process centring around Islam on first urbanised Alevis what extent systemic nature attenuates takes away account focused three key themes including daily life, institutional forms discrimination workplace.