Understanding Current Alevism: A Field Research in Ankara, Turkey

Anthropology is a discipline that attempts to understand the human condition epistemologically. Concepts such as ethnicity or identity keep framing these studies. Alevism one of those which called ethnoreligious. However, has assumed different meanings according regions and countries in historical process. Discussions about what have increased, especially recent years. Different sources feed discussions. Against insistence on defining within borders determined by governments Turkey discourse ignores social diversity general, feels need return its resources, sociological studies Alevi intellectuals, seek solution this crisis. On other hand, organized movement, achieved various gains Europe, expresses more confidently their demands for rights Alevis Turkey, they are also agenda country from time time. The participants Turks who do not connections with organizations, access written Alevism, whose socialization spaces usually village associations city. Although views sometimes show parallelism “essence/history” create unique ways conveying principles philosophy beliefs diversify interpretations Alevism. These features stretch boundaries traditional discourses.