“Trust Us!”: Army and Religion Lead Disengaged Turkish Youth
Summary of Ibrahim Kalin’s column, based on three recent reports:
According to the 2007 census, about 60 percent of the total population of Turkey is under the age of 30. So just what is this young and extremely dynamic population doing?
About 40 percent of Turkey’s youth seems to be doing “nothing”. They don’t work, they don’t go to school and they don’t participate in any political or civil society organizations. They are not reading nor doing sports, nor are they interested in any serious cultural, social or cultural issues. Only 5 percent of youth take part in any political activity. Based on their role models, they are interested primarily in money, honor (chasing bad guys), adventure and fun. Most say they prefer to concentrate on their education, graduate with a good degree and get a solid, well-paying job. But aside from students, the youth includes millions of young workers, as well as those who do not work and stay at home (most of these are girls).
The history of the youth movements in the 1970s has left a deep mark on many Turkish families. For them, involvement in politics means being a political anarchist, a violent militant and an enemy of the state. A “good citizen” is defined as a docile, obedient worker who cares primarily about his or her own future. The political sphere is seen as too dirty and polarized. That is why the two institutions that the youth trust most are the army and religion.
The political sphere is seen as too dirty and polarized. That is why the two institutions that the youth trust most are the army and religion.
How (and where) is this causal connection established?