A never‐ending story of an identity crisis or a creative reformulation of an Alevi‐mindset? What the case of Alevi youth in the German diaspora suggest today?

IF 0.4 Q4 ETHNIC STUDIES

Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism Pub Date : 2024-07-18 DOI:10.1111/sena.12439

Ahmet Kerim Gültekin

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The Alevi movement, originating more than three decades ago in Turkey and the Western European diaspora, has led to significant social and cultural shifts within Alevi communities. This movement witnessed the emergence of Alevi associations, increased religio‐political activities, and a fervent search for a redefined Alevi identity. The quest for a comprehensive understanding of Alevi identity remains a contested debate, prominently reflected within Alevi youth, who navigate complex socio‐cultural landscapes and encounter challenges in defining their identity amidst competing narratives and associations. This paper examines the identity formation strategies of young Alevis in Berlin, drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted between 2021 and 2023. Contrary to mainstream portrayals of Alevi youth experiencing a loss of identity, this study argues for the presence of continuity dynamics, emphasising inherited Alevi mindsets and emotions. Through interviews and analysis of a documentary produced by Berlin Alevi youth, the paper explores new narratives about Alevi history, sociology, and theology constructed by young Alevis, highlighting their role in shaping contemporary Alevism in Germany. This research contributes original data and discussions to the existing literature on Alevi youth, shedding light on their evolving identities and the dynamics of Alevi discourse in diasporic settings.

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是永无休止的身份危机故事，还是阿列维心态的创造性重塑？散居德国的阿列维青年的情况对今天有何启示？

阿列维运动起源于三十多年前的土耳其和西欧移民社群，在阿列维社区内引发了重大的社会和文化变革。这场运动见证了阿列维社团的出现、宗教政治活动的增加以及对重新定义阿列维身份的热切追求。寻求对阿列维人身份的全面理解仍然是一场有争议的辩论，这突出地反映在阿列维青年身上，他们在复杂的社会文化环境中摸爬滚打，并在相互竞争的叙事和社团中遇到了界定身份的挑战。本文以 2021 年至 2023 年期间开展的人种学实地调查为基础，研究了柏林阿列维青年的身份形成策略。与主流观点认为阿列维青年正在经历身份认同的丧失相反，本研究认为身份认同存在连续性动力，强调了阿列维人固有的思维方式和情感。通过采访和分析柏林阿列维青年制作的纪录片，本文探讨了阿列维青年构建的有关阿列维历史、社会学和神学的新叙事，强调了他们在塑造德国当代阿列维主义中的作用。这项研究为有关阿列维青年的现有文献提供了原始数据和讨论，揭示了他们不断演变的身份和散居环境中阿列维话语的动态。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism ETHNIC STUDIES-

CiteScore

1.60

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism (SEN) is a fully refereed journal publishing three issues per volume on ethnicity, race and nationalism. The sources and nature of ethnic identity, minority rights, migration and identity politics remain central and recurring themes of the modern world. The journal approaches the complexity of these questions from a contemporary perspective. The journal''s sole purpose is to showcase exceptional articles from up-and-coming scholars across the world, as well as concerned professionals and practitioners in government, law, NGOs and media, making it one of the first journals to provide an interdisciplinary forum for established and younger scholars alike. The journal is strictly non-partisan and does not subscribe to any particular viewpoints or perspective. All articles are fully peer-reviewed by scholars who are specialists in their respective fields. Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism publishes high quality contributions based on the latest scholarship drawing on political science, sociology, anthropology, economics, international relations, history and cultural studies. It welcomes contributions that address contemporary questions of ethnicity, race and nationalism across the globe and disciplines. In addition to short research articles, each issue introduces the latest publications in this field, as well as cutting edge review articles of topical and scholarly debates in this field. The journal also publishes regular special issues on themes of contemporary relevance, as well as the conference issue of the annual conference of the Association for the Study of Ethnicity and Nationalism (ASEN).