Kodzoquo
27th November 2001, 20:14
CIRCASSIANS IN TURKEY
PATTERNS OF CAUCASIAN ASSIMILATION IN TURKEY
There are three main dimensions about the Circassians in Turkey:
Because of their religion Circassians could not gain minority rights. They had felt political and social pressure over practicing traditions,names and use of language.
The democratization movement can change the present condition. There are attempts to regain original family surnames. Circassians is Turkey are eagerly watching the attidues of Turkish Government towards Kurdish people. Because,any democratic agreement between Kurdish people and Turkish Government, will create important effects on Circassian people in Turkey. If Kurds can again minority rights, Circassians hope to gain democratic benefits this experience.
The Democratization movement in Turkey and rising nationalism allower the world,have important effects on the reorganization of Circassians. There are two major approaches among them: return to the motherland and stay in Turkey and get minority rights, like openning a school or pressing a Circassians newspaper. This may seem very simple intentions but Turkish law structure does not allow them. In Turkey, only, minority groups have right to use their mother tongue, to open schools, to press in native language.
Yet, Circassians are not considered as en ethnic group and as a minority. They have been left at the Turkish side like Kurdish People. In Turkey minority rights are given only to non-Muslims ethnic groups like Armenians,Jews,Greeks. Circassian are Muslim.
The minority rights in Turkey,were guaranted by the done between English’s, French’s Italians’s Goverments and Ankara. After the War of Independence. The government of Ankara was given minority rights as concession.
There are many people who thinking about going back. To the reason is not mainly economic but sensitive. However, they want to live in the motherland.
Place Population comments
Russia 900,000 Caucas area
Turkey 2,000,000 a lot of villages all over the country
Israel 3000 In Rihania and Kfar kama villages
U.S.A 5000 New Jersey and California
Syria 30,000 .
Jordan 126,000 .
Germany 15,000 .
Holland 2500 .
Yugoslavia 1500 few Circassian Villages
Denmark 150 .
PATTERNS OF CAUCASIAN ASSIMILATION IN TURKEY
EDUCATION
THE MEDIUM OF EDUCATION IN TURKEY IS TURKISH. THE USE OF CAUCASIAN LANGUAGES IN SCHOOLS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT CONTROLS THE CURRICULA, APPOINTMENT AND THE SALARY OF TEACHERS.
THEREFORE, FROM AN EARLY PERIOD IN HIS LIFE, A CAUCASIAN CHILD IS INCULCATED WITH THE VALUE OF LEARNING THE TURKISH LANGUAGE, AND AS SUCH HE/SHE WILL BE COMPELLED TO IDENTIFY WITH THE CULTURE AND MORES OF THE TURKS.
SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS
SOCIO-CULTURAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CAUCASIANS AND TURKS COULD BE IDENTIFIED DESPITE THEIR COMMON SUNNI MUSLIM RELIGION. CAUCASIANS IN GENERAL DO NOT PRACTICE POLYGAMY. THE STATUS OF CAUCASIAN WOMEN AMONGST THEIR FOLK IS TRADITIONALLY HIGHER THAN THAT OF THEIR TURKISH SISTERS.
CAUCASIANS ARE TRADITIONALLY ENDOGAMOUS, BUT THEY STRICTLY PROHIBIT MARRIAGE BETWEEN FIRST COUSINS AND STRONGLY DISFAVOUR MARRIAGE BETWEEN KIN MORE DISTANTLY RELATED. THIS CAUSES MANY CAUCASIANS TO SEEK MARRIAGE OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE. IN EFFECT, THIS STRENGTHENS THE BONDS BETWEEN THE CAUCASIAN VILLAGES.
THE TURKS, ON THE OTHER HAND, FAVOUR FIRST COUSIN MARRIAGES, BUT THEY ALSO PRACTICE EXOGAMY EVEN WITH NON-TURKS. BECAUSE CAUCASIAN WOMEN ARE RENOWNED FOR THEIR BEAUTY, THEY ARE SOUGHT AFTER FOR MARRIAGE BY TURKISH MEN.
CAUCASIAN MAIDENS ARE ALLOWED FREE ASSOCIATION WITH MEN BEFORE THEY ARE MARRIED WITHIN THE ACCEPTED TRADITIONS. HOWEVER, AFTER MARRIAGE, A WOMAN IS EXPECTED TO TAKE CARE OF THE FAMILY, AND HER ASSOCIATIONS ARE RESTRICTED TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS. AT PARTIES, WOMEN AND MEN DANCE FREELY, AND AS SUCH THIS ACTIVITY SERVES AS A MATCH-MAKER. CAUCASIAN MAIDS ARE ALSO ALLOWED MALE VISITORS IN THEIR HOUSES, ACCORDING TO PROPER ETIQUETTE.
INITIALLY, CAUCASIAN REACTION TO MARRIAGE WITH NON-CAUCASIANS WAS VEHEMENT, AND MANY BLOOD FEUDS WERE INITIATED BETWEEN CAUCASIANS AND TURKS. EACH COMMUNITY LIVED WITHIN ITS OWN SOCIO-CULTURAL DOMAIN. HOWEVER, LAXITY LED TO SOME CASES OF INTER-MARRIAGE, AND AS THE DIVIDING LINE BECAME HAZIER, THESE BECAME MORE FREQUENT. HOWEVER, CAUCASIANS STILL PREFER THAT THEIR OFFSPRING MARRY OF THEIR OWN KIND.
EMIGRATION TO BIG TOWNS AND CITIES
AS LONG AS THE CAUCASIANS STAYED IN THEIR VILLAGES, THE PRESSURE OF LINGUISTIC ASSIMILATION WAS CONTAINABLE. EVERYDAY LANGUAGE WAS CAUCASIAN, AND TURKISH WAS USED AT SCHOOL AND DEALING WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD. HOWEVER, AS IMMIGRATION TO BIG TOWNS AND CITIES REACHED SUBSTANTIAL PROPORTIONS, THE LINGUISTIC PRESSURE INCREASED. INITIALLY, THE PROGENY OF THE IMMIGRANTS BECAME BI-LINGUAL. HOWEVER, THE MEMBERS OF THE NEXT GENERATION GENERALLY BECAME MONOLINGUAL IN TURKISH. ALTHOUGH THIS DID NOT SEVER ETHNIC IDENTITY, IT WEAKENED IT CONSIDERABLY. THEREFORE, THE LINGUISTIC PATTERN IS FLUENCY IN THE MOTHER TONGUE AMONGST THE ELDERS, BI-LINGUALISM AMONGST THE PARENTS, AND TURKISH MONO-LINGUALISM AMONGST THE YOUNGER GENERATION.
MARRIAGE
THE MARITAL PATTERN CAN BE DIVIDED INTO THREE PHASES: STRICT ENDOGAMY, FEMALE CAUCASIAN - MALE TURK ASSOCIATION, AND CAUCASIAN-TURK ASSOCIATION. ENDOGAMY IS ONE OF THE MORE SIGNIFICANT STRONGHOLDS AGAINST ETHNIC ASSIMILATION. ITS DESTRUCTION LEADS TO EXOGAMY, WHERE YOUNG PROSPEROUS MALE TURKS ARE ATTRACTED TO CAUCASIAN FEMALES. THIS BREAKDOWN LEADS TO WEAKENING OF ETHNIC IDENTIFICATION, AND EVENTUALLY SOME MALE CAUCASIANS SEEK NON-CAUCASIAN WIVES. IT MUST BE STRESSED THAT ENDOGAMY IS STILL THE EXPECTED NORM AMONGST THE CAUCASIANS.
OFFICIAL PROPAGANDA
TURKEY IS A NATIONALISTIC STATE THAT GLORIFIES THE TURKISH ETHNIC STOCK. ACCORDING TO TURKISH IDEOLOGY, CAUCASIANS ARE TURKS WHO SPEAK DISTORTED LANGUAGES. THEREFORE, THEY ARE PRESSURED TO ABANDON THEIR MOTHER TONGUES AND IDENTIFY WITH TURKISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE. USE OF CAUCASIAN LANGUAGES IS FROWNED UPON BY THE AUTHORITIES.
THE CAUCASIAN CHARACTER
A CAUCASIAN IS GENERALLY KNOWN FOR HIS HONESTY, STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS AND HARD WORK. THEREFORE, ALL WORK PROSPECTS ARE OPEN TO HIM, AND HE IS SOUGHT AFTER AS A GOOD AND RELIABLE WORKER. THIS PREFERENCE CAUSES HIM TO LEAVE HIS NATIVE ENVIRONMENT AND SEEK TO ATTAIN A HIGH LIVING STANDARD. THE PRICE PAID, HOWEVER, IS EVENTUAL LOSS OF ETHNIC IDENTITY, OR DOWNWARD ETHNIC ASSIMILATION.
RELIGION
THE CAUCASIANS IDENTIFY WITH MANY OF THE RELIGIOUS VALUES OF THE TURKS, BEING THEIR CO-RELIGIONISTS. HOWEVER, IT MUST BE EMPHASIZED THAT RELIGIOUS VALUES AMONGST THE CAUCASIANS TAKE SECOND PLACE TO THEIR TRADITIONAL VALUES (AT LEAST THEY DID INITIALLY). THIS MEANS THAT RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATION, FOR EXAMPLE FREQUENTING THE SAME MOSQUE, LEADS TO GREATER SOCIAL IDENTIFICATION. IT ALSO BLOTS SOME VESTIGES OF SUSPICION BETWEEN THE VARIOUS MUSLIM ETHNIC GROUPS. THEREFORE, THE CAUCASIAN CLAIM TO SEPARATENESS IS WEAKENED.
CONSLUSION
-95 % of young people who were born in cities cannot talk Circassian. Next
-Circassians lived in rural areas before and after exile. The migration from rural to urban was experienced only from 1964-65 on. This means that during 137 years in Turkey, Circassians have city experience only for 36 years
-Their culture has mainly rural elements in it. Recent generations are supposed to produse an alternative city live.
-Urbanization is a danger for ethnic groups especially without minority rights. Circassians cannot seperate themselves from others by using original names, languages and traditions.
-Urbanization destroy cultural differences between Circassians and the rest of the society. Restructurment of Circassian identity man help the creation of alternative city by showing up differences.
PATTERNS OF CAUCASIAN ASSIMILATION IN TURKEY
There are three main dimensions about the Circassians in Turkey:
Because of their religion Circassians could not gain minority rights. They had felt political and social pressure over practicing traditions,names and use of language.
The democratization movement can change the present condition. There are attempts to regain original family surnames. Circassians is Turkey are eagerly watching the attidues of Turkish Government towards Kurdish people. Because,any democratic agreement between Kurdish people and Turkish Government, will create important effects on Circassian people in Turkey. If Kurds can again minority rights, Circassians hope to gain democratic benefits this experience.
The Democratization movement in Turkey and rising nationalism allower the world,have important effects on the reorganization of Circassians. There are two major approaches among them: return to the motherland and stay in Turkey and get minority rights, like openning a school or pressing a Circassians newspaper. This may seem very simple intentions but Turkish law structure does not allow them. In Turkey, only, minority groups have right to use their mother tongue, to open schools, to press in native language.
Yet, Circassians are not considered as en ethnic group and as a minority. They have been left at the Turkish side like Kurdish People. In Turkey minority rights are given only to non-Muslims ethnic groups like Armenians,Jews,Greeks. Circassian are Muslim.
The minority rights in Turkey,were guaranted by the done between English’s, French’s Italians’s Goverments and Ankara. After the War of Independence. The government of Ankara was given minority rights as concession.
There are many people who thinking about going back. To the reason is not mainly economic but sensitive. However, they want to live in the motherland.
Place Population comments
Russia 900,000 Caucas area
Turkey 2,000,000 a lot of villages all over the country
Israel 3000 In Rihania and Kfar kama villages
U.S.A 5000 New Jersey and California
Syria 30,000 .
Jordan 126,000 .
Germany 15,000 .
Holland 2500 .
Yugoslavia 1500 few Circassian Villages
Denmark 150 .
PATTERNS OF CAUCASIAN ASSIMILATION IN TURKEY
EDUCATION
THE MEDIUM OF EDUCATION IN TURKEY IS TURKISH. THE USE OF CAUCASIAN LANGUAGES IN SCHOOLS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT CONTROLS THE CURRICULA, APPOINTMENT AND THE SALARY OF TEACHERS.
THEREFORE, FROM AN EARLY PERIOD IN HIS LIFE, A CAUCASIAN CHILD IS INCULCATED WITH THE VALUE OF LEARNING THE TURKISH LANGUAGE, AND AS SUCH HE/SHE WILL BE COMPELLED TO IDENTIFY WITH THE CULTURE AND MORES OF THE TURKS.
SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS
SOCIO-CULTURAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CAUCASIANS AND TURKS COULD BE IDENTIFIED DESPITE THEIR COMMON SUNNI MUSLIM RELIGION. CAUCASIANS IN GENERAL DO NOT PRACTICE POLYGAMY. THE STATUS OF CAUCASIAN WOMEN AMONGST THEIR FOLK IS TRADITIONALLY HIGHER THAN THAT OF THEIR TURKISH SISTERS.
CAUCASIANS ARE TRADITIONALLY ENDOGAMOUS, BUT THEY STRICTLY PROHIBIT MARRIAGE BETWEEN FIRST COUSINS AND STRONGLY DISFAVOUR MARRIAGE BETWEEN KIN MORE DISTANTLY RELATED. THIS CAUSES MANY CAUCASIANS TO SEEK MARRIAGE OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE. IN EFFECT, THIS STRENGTHENS THE BONDS BETWEEN THE CAUCASIAN VILLAGES.
THE TURKS, ON THE OTHER HAND, FAVOUR FIRST COUSIN MARRIAGES, BUT THEY ALSO PRACTICE EXOGAMY EVEN WITH NON-TURKS. BECAUSE CAUCASIAN WOMEN ARE RENOWNED FOR THEIR BEAUTY, THEY ARE SOUGHT AFTER FOR MARRIAGE BY TURKISH MEN.
CAUCASIAN MAIDENS ARE ALLOWED FREE ASSOCIATION WITH MEN BEFORE THEY ARE MARRIED WITHIN THE ACCEPTED TRADITIONS. HOWEVER, AFTER MARRIAGE, A WOMAN IS EXPECTED TO TAKE CARE OF THE FAMILY, AND HER ASSOCIATIONS ARE RESTRICTED TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS. AT PARTIES, WOMEN AND MEN DANCE FREELY, AND AS SUCH THIS ACTIVITY SERVES AS A MATCH-MAKER. CAUCASIAN MAIDS ARE ALSO ALLOWED MALE VISITORS IN THEIR HOUSES, ACCORDING TO PROPER ETIQUETTE.
INITIALLY, CAUCASIAN REACTION TO MARRIAGE WITH NON-CAUCASIANS WAS VEHEMENT, AND MANY BLOOD FEUDS WERE INITIATED BETWEEN CAUCASIANS AND TURKS. EACH COMMUNITY LIVED WITHIN ITS OWN SOCIO-CULTURAL DOMAIN. HOWEVER, LAXITY LED TO SOME CASES OF INTER-MARRIAGE, AND AS THE DIVIDING LINE BECAME HAZIER, THESE BECAME MORE FREQUENT. HOWEVER, CAUCASIANS STILL PREFER THAT THEIR OFFSPRING MARRY OF THEIR OWN KIND.
EMIGRATION TO BIG TOWNS AND CITIES
AS LONG AS THE CAUCASIANS STAYED IN THEIR VILLAGES, THE PRESSURE OF LINGUISTIC ASSIMILATION WAS CONTAINABLE. EVERYDAY LANGUAGE WAS CAUCASIAN, AND TURKISH WAS USED AT SCHOOL AND DEALING WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD. HOWEVER, AS IMMIGRATION TO BIG TOWNS AND CITIES REACHED SUBSTANTIAL PROPORTIONS, THE LINGUISTIC PRESSURE INCREASED. INITIALLY, THE PROGENY OF THE IMMIGRANTS BECAME BI-LINGUAL. HOWEVER, THE MEMBERS OF THE NEXT GENERATION GENERALLY BECAME MONOLINGUAL IN TURKISH. ALTHOUGH THIS DID NOT SEVER ETHNIC IDENTITY, IT WEAKENED IT CONSIDERABLY. THEREFORE, THE LINGUISTIC PATTERN IS FLUENCY IN THE MOTHER TONGUE AMONGST THE ELDERS, BI-LINGUALISM AMONGST THE PARENTS, AND TURKISH MONO-LINGUALISM AMONGST THE YOUNGER GENERATION.
MARRIAGE
THE MARITAL PATTERN CAN BE DIVIDED INTO THREE PHASES: STRICT ENDOGAMY, FEMALE CAUCASIAN - MALE TURK ASSOCIATION, AND CAUCASIAN-TURK ASSOCIATION. ENDOGAMY IS ONE OF THE MORE SIGNIFICANT STRONGHOLDS AGAINST ETHNIC ASSIMILATION. ITS DESTRUCTION LEADS TO EXOGAMY, WHERE YOUNG PROSPEROUS MALE TURKS ARE ATTRACTED TO CAUCASIAN FEMALES. THIS BREAKDOWN LEADS TO WEAKENING OF ETHNIC IDENTIFICATION, AND EVENTUALLY SOME MALE CAUCASIANS SEEK NON-CAUCASIAN WIVES. IT MUST BE STRESSED THAT ENDOGAMY IS STILL THE EXPECTED NORM AMONGST THE CAUCASIANS.
OFFICIAL PROPAGANDA
TURKEY IS A NATIONALISTIC STATE THAT GLORIFIES THE TURKISH ETHNIC STOCK. ACCORDING TO TURKISH IDEOLOGY, CAUCASIANS ARE TURKS WHO SPEAK DISTORTED LANGUAGES. THEREFORE, THEY ARE PRESSURED TO ABANDON THEIR MOTHER TONGUES AND IDENTIFY WITH TURKISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE. USE OF CAUCASIAN LANGUAGES IS FROWNED UPON BY THE AUTHORITIES.
THE CAUCASIAN CHARACTER
A CAUCASIAN IS GENERALLY KNOWN FOR HIS HONESTY, STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS AND HARD WORK. THEREFORE, ALL WORK PROSPECTS ARE OPEN TO HIM, AND HE IS SOUGHT AFTER AS A GOOD AND RELIABLE WORKER. THIS PREFERENCE CAUSES HIM TO LEAVE HIS NATIVE ENVIRONMENT AND SEEK TO ATTAIN A HIGH LIVING STANDARD. THE PRICE PAID, HOWEVER, IS EVENTUAL LOSS OF ETHNIC IDENTITY, OR DOWNWARD ETHNIC ASSIMILATION.
RELIGION
THE CAUCASIANS IDENTIFY WITH MANY OF THE RELIGIOUS VALUES OF THE TURKS, BEING THEIR CO-RELIGIONISTS. HOWEVER, IT MUST BE EMPHASIZED THAT RELIGIOUS VALUES AMONGST THE CAUCASIANS TAKE SECOND PLACE TO THEIR TRADITIONAL VALUES (AT LEAST THEY DID INITIALLY). THIS MEANS THAT RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATION, FOR EXAMPLE FREQUENTING THE SAME MOSQUE, LEADS TO GREATER SOCIAL IDENTIFICATION. IT ALSO BLOTS SOME VESTIGES OF SUSPICION BETWEEN THE VARIOUS MUSLIM ETHNIC GROUPS. THEREFORE, THE CAUCASIAN CLAIM TO SEPARATENESS IS WEAKENED.
CONSLUSION
-95 % of young people who were born in cities cannot talk Circassian. Next
-Circassians lived in rural areas before and after exile. The migration from rural to urban was experienced only from 1964-65 on. This means that during 137 years in Turkey, Circassians have city experience only for 36 years
-Their culture has mainly rural elements in it. Recent generations are supposed to produse an alternative city live.
-Urbanization is a danger for ethnic groups especially without minority rights. Circassians cannot seperate themselves from others by using original names, languages and traditions.
-Urbanization destroy cultural differences between Circassians and the rest of the society. Restructurment of Circassian identity man help the creation of alternative city by showing up differences.