Reconstructing the political : a study on contemporary Alevi politics from a generative structuralist perspective
Author
Göker, Emrah
Advisor
Erman, Tahire
Date
1999Publisher
Bilkent University
Language
English
Type
ThesisItem Usage Stats
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Abstract
The thesis, fırstly, introduces and engages in a critica! relationship with the
sociological theory (namely, generative structuralism) of Pierre Bourdieu,
retbinking his understanding of politics as a "field". For this purpose, the theory
of ageney within the paradigm of generative structuralism is questioned and
supplementary views are offered, emphasizing the no tion of "class embodiment".
The central aim of this critica! engagement is to use the Bourdieusian "toolbox"
for the sociological study of social movements.
Secondly, building on the strengths of Bourdieu's theory of field analysis, and on
the suggestions for the "treatment" of the theory' s weaknesses, the thesis focuses
on contemporary Alevi politics as a case. Making use of an intensive literature
research, the inner dynamics, agent-structure relationships and the limits (in terms
of both potentials and constraints) of contemporary Alevism as a social mavement
is investigated.
In conclusion, the thesis makes a brief discussion, inspired by the M.A.
candidate' s own political dispositions, of the possibility of transformatİ ve,
resİstant political action within Alevism. In the same chapter, there also is a crude
proposal for a future research agenda for the study of social movements using
generative structuralism.
Keywords
Pierre Bourdieugenerative structuralism
political field
Alevism
Alevi politics
social movements