The Turkish young people no longer want to remain silent

It was the day, as the global #MeToo debate in the Istanbul suburb of Küçükçekmece arrived: At a high school refused to go to students in their classes, they are no longer filled staircases, the auditorium, corridors, and they cried: "We are silent." The Protest was directed against a teacher. He is said to have harassed a student and had the privilege of teaching in spite of the indictment.

A student uprising in the Erdogan-country? Amazing? Not if you read the study, created by the renowned Turkish research Institute Konda. It is to be presented in its entirety in January. Were interviewed 5793 Turks over 15 years in 36 of the 81 provinces, in cities as in villages. Thereafter, the 15 - to 29-Year-olds in everyday life, today, is less conservative than ten years ago.

head cloth is always unpopular

It will hold less and less young people to the Islamic prayer rules, and in the month of Ramadan is less fasted. Girls and young women are wearing less head cloth. 58 percent of cover your main never, ten years ago, it was 50 percent. The strict Form of the headscarf in Turkey Türban called to see where no hair is, wear only 6 percent of 15 - to 29-Year-old, ten years ago, it was 16 percent. And most of all want to choose their life partners themselves, rather than by the family hook up.

93 per cent of the young Turks use social media, especially Facebook and Twitter. The images of the student protest of Küçükçekmece in October are still on Youtube. "Turkey is like a social laboratory for the consequences of urbanization and globalization," says Bekir Agirdir, the head of Konda, in his office in Istanbul's business district, the skyscrapers, the seventy year displace buildings. Agirdir has experienced the change, he grew up in a West-Anatolian small town. "Because all the Sunnis, all the Turks, and if someone spoke of sin, understood all the same underneath." Agirdir was born in 1956. "At that time, 75 percent of the Turks lived on the Land." Today there are only 7 percent. "In no other country there is such an internal migration." The result of the rapid urbanization: "a pretty stark change of culture".

Which country Turkey should be similar? 60 percent
of the boy's name is a European one.

So it was still a while ago in the cities is unthinkable that couples kissing on the street. "Now, do that girl with the headscarf." In the villages of any public contact "sin". However, political attitudes are hidden in Public now, "because little confidence in the rule of law". So you move on the road, rather with Fear, in the own four walls, such feelings are stored. "The apartment is in a security zone."

And how, politically, is the youth? "In the past, the elder brothers, what slogans to write on the walls." Today, says the researcher, included hierarchies less, young people are more interested in loose groups than for parties, and for issues such as environmental protection and animal welfare. And they wanted to enjoy, especially the life you wanted to be in the first line of "happy".

Now, Erdogan wanted to educate a conservative Generation? Agirdir smiles, not every dream will become true, he says. On the question of which country should be the Turkey, similar to, call it 60 percent of a European. "Turkey will never be like Iran," says the researcher. Unfortunately, however, there is also in Europe increasingly negative role models, populists ruled elsewhere in the world. "We live in a global interglacial period, in terms of the values of democracy."

What does all this mean for Erdogan's Power? In March, elections in Turkey, in all municipalities. For 16 years, Erdogan's AKP has secured their majorities. The could stay for a few years, says the Konda-chief. Because Erdogan can do it, "to manipulate the Fears and feelings" in a polarized society.

In a grey Zone

As the Conservatives feared for their freedom of religion, should come from the Secular Power. And the Secular, looked still on the Conservative. The nationalists feared, in turn, a division of the country, should win the Kurds to many votes. Agirdir says: "Turkey is in need of internal reconciliation." And the economy? You stagnant. Two-thirds of the young people have to rely on the support of their parents. "You have little hope." People who turn away from the ACP, don't know, but where you should go. "You will remain in a gray Zone."

at some point, so Agirdir says but I will take a new Generation. "She is mobile, educated, global, ideology-oriented, free. In ten years you will manage this country." After the uprising in Küçükçekmece 15 students were given a class reference – for five days. For Turkish standards, this was a rather mild reaction.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 17.12.2018, 20:36 PM