Social Structure of Turkey

Mode of Delivery

Face to Face

Prerequisites and Co-Requisites

None

Recommended Optional Programme Components

Sociology

Course Contents

The political, military, economic and social structure of Ottoman Emperor, the Westernization of the last period of Ottoman Empire, World Wars, cold war, crises, the relations with the rest of the world are among the topics of this course.

Weekly Schedule

1) * Concept of social structure and its main features * Key concepts used in social structure analysis (culture, identity, class, status, role, etc.) * Theories examining social structure (functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism, etc.) * Theoretical frameworks for understanding Turkey's social structure
2) Historical and Social Development of Turkey * Social transformation from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic * Processes of modernization and Westernization * Urbanization, industrialization, and migration phenomena * Historical transformation of the social structure
3) Population and Demography * Population structure and characteristics of Turkey * Population growth, aging, and migration movements * Urban and rural population distribution * Social impacts of demographic change
4) Family and Household Structure * Traditional family structures and their transformation * Nuclear family, extended family, and single-parent families * Trends in marriage, divorce, and fertility * Impacts of social change on family structure
5) Education and Social Mobility * Education system and equality of opportunity * Impact of education level on social structure * Social mobility and class mobility * Problems in education and possible solutions
6) Religion and Society * Religious beliefs and practices in Turkey * Principle of secularism and state-religion relations * Impact of religion on social life * Relationship between religion and politics
7) Ethnic Identity and Culture * Ethnic groups and cultural diversity in Turkey * Ethnic identity, belonging, and discrimination * Multiculturalism and integration policies * Dynamics of cultural change and conflict
8) mid term examination
9) Gender and Women * Gender roles and inequality * Women's place in society and their problems * Feminism and the women's movement * Policies for gender equality
10) Youth and Generations * Place and importance of youth in social structure * Intergenerational differences and conflicts * Youth culture and social media * Future expectations and problems of youth
11) Work Life and Class Structure * Labor market and employment in Turkey * Unemployment, informal work, and income distribution * Classes and class conflicts * Workers movement and labour rights
12) Urbanization and Urban Problems * Urbanization process and characteristics in Turkey * Squatting, urban transformation, and gentrification * Urban poverty and social exclusion * Environmental problems and sustainable cities
13) Migration and its Social Impacts * Migration history of Turkey and current migration movements * Refugees, asylum seekers, and migrant workers * Social and economic impacts of migration * Integration policies and cultural interaction
14) Politics and Social Movements * Political system and parties in Turkey * Non-governmental organizations and social movements * Democracy, human rights, and freedoms * Social change and political participation
15) Final examination

Recommended or Required Reading

1- Kongar, Emre; 21. Yüzyılda Türkiye – 2000’li Yıllarda Türkiye’nin Toplumsal Yapısı, İstanbul, Remzi Kitabevi, 31. Basım, 2008;
2- Mardin, Şerif; “Center-Periphery Relations: A Key to Turkish Politics?”, Tarihsiz; Akçura, Yusuf; “Üç Tarz-ı Siyaset”, Kahire, 1904.
3- İnalcık, Halil; Osmanlı İmparatorluğu: Toplum ve Ekonomi
4- Cem, İsmail; Türkiye’de Geri Kalmışlığın Tarihi, İstanbul, Cem Yayınevi

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

1) Lecture
2) Question-Answer
3) Discussion

Assessment Methods and Criteria

Contribution of Quiz to Course Grade	30%
Contribution of Final Examination to Course Grade	70%
Total	100%

Language of Instruction

Turkish

Work Placement(s)

Not Required