Uprooted cultures: Cultural identities after globalization and the crisis of Turkish national identity

Haluk Ozdemir, Purdue University

Abstract

This research investigates the relationship between globalization and national identity crises by using the Turkish case. The underlying assumption of this research is that globalization is manifested in the intercultural penetration processes which have substantial effects on the national identities. Consequently, globalization is defined as a set of cultural interpenetration processes, which go back further than the 20th century. Identity crises, on the other hand, refer to uncompromising cultural and political conflicts among polarized groups, which struggle with each other over the definition of a national identity. Globalization is regarded as having substantial impact on such crises through its encouragement of conflicts rather than conciliation, through opportunities of expression and cross-border alliances among similar but territorially distant groups. The effects of national images on national identities are also discussed in the context of globalization. The image of a nation, which refers to its perception by others, is selected as a special case where globalization calls for a revision of the current national identity. It is argued that the national images, or stereotypical representations of a culture, can have subversive effects on identity as they penetrate into the culture to which these images belong, especially when such images are negative. The indicators of an identity crisis are; politicization of cultural differences, lack of compromise, totality of identity claims, and the vague political outcomes of these conflicts. The Turkish case is a perfect illustration of such situations, which become more prominent as the effects of globalization are more strongly felt. This research investigates the identity issue in Turkey by focusing on the three main issues and how they are shaped by globalization: the Kurdish problem, the secularist-Islamist conflict, and the efforts of capturing the state.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Theen, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Political science|Middle Eastern history|Minority & ethnic groups|Sociology|Cultural anthropology

COinS