Alevi Youth in Terms of Identity Orientations

This study is based on a research of the identity interpretation and meaning of today's young Alevis. The aim of the research is to understand by phenomenological perspective how Alevi youth build and live their own identities. In this context, in line with the qualitative research method, in-depth interviews were conducted with 33 Alevi young people living in different cities of Turkey. Five identity orientations have been determined based on the young Alevis' perspective on their own social identity, Alevism consciousness, faithfulness level, differences from previous generations, exclusion due to identity, and identity strategies. These tendencies are categorized as “Faith-Oriented Alevism”, "Culture Oriented Alevism", "Ethnically Oriented Alevism", "Politically Oriented Alevism", and "Individual Oriented Alevism”. In the first one, it is the establishment of collective identity in the axis of faith and centered on the ritual. In the latter, faith-based practices of Alevism are weak, but cultural discourse is dominant. Those who emphasized their Alevism with their other ethnic identities were evaluated in the third category. On the other hand, the ideological and political view of Alevis is more dominant in the political orientations. It has been observed that individuals in each category have collective interpretation schemes and designs of Alevism. Finally, identity interpretation in individual orientations has been developed without any need for collective networks and intermediary organizations. There may be fluidities and shifts between five identity orientations. This situation reflects the dynamics of the boundaries of the Alevism. The new generation of Alevis have a variety of different dynamics in terms of their way of living and interpreting their identity. It can also be said that integration in social, cultural and political interaction processes leads to the construction of a new Alevi entity