Browsing by Subject "Participation"
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Item Open Access The analysis of Turkey's approach to peace operations(2007) Güngör, UğurThis dissertation aims at analyzing the motivations that lie at the roots of Turkey’s involvement in peace operations, mostly organized under the leadership of the United Nations in the post-Cold War era. The main contention is that participation in such operations has been an identity-constructing activity in the sense that Turkey has tried to reinforce its eroding western identity in the 1990s through this particular way. This dissertation also discusses alternative motivations behind Turkey’s involvement in peace operations, such as security-related considerations in a neo-realist vein and domestic influence of ethnic and religion pressure groups, but argues that these accounts fail short of offering convincing explanations. Methodologically, the research for this dissertation will be thematic, not theoretical. The purpose of this study is not to make value judgments concerning Turkey’s participation in peace operations, but instead to describe, understand, and explain its role. Based on Turkey’s experiences in peace operations, this dissertation reaches the following conclusions. First, Turkey’s western image has improved. Second, Turkey could transform its security identity and interests in line with the changing security conceptualizations in the West. Third, the modernization process of Turkish armed forces has become much easier following Turkey’s presence in such operations. Fourth, the prospects of Turkey’s membership in the EU have increased following Turkey’s cooperation with EU members in various peace operations in different regions of the world. Fifth, participation in peace operations has contributed to the improvement of Turkey’s relations with the United States which have gradually deteriorated in the postCold War era.Item Open Access Effects of different seating arrangements on learning experience : the case of medium sized lecture settings in Bilkent University(2014) Hilal, Ümmüşan SelinThe aim of this study is to understand and compare effects of different seating arrangements on attention, concentration, participation and learning satisfaction in medium sized lecture settings in higher education. The study also aims to examine seating preferences in terms of territoriality and personal space. Two types of seating arrangements which are conventional straight row arrangement and U- Shape arrangement were compared. The investigation was conducted in the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, at Bilkent University. The sample group of the study was same in both seating arrangements. The study was conducted eight times: four times with traditional row arrangement and 4 times with U- shape arrangement. Analysis of physical space, direct and indirect observations and questionnaire were used as techniques. Firstly, the sample group was observed in traditional row arrangement and then U- Shape arrangement. Both lectures and discussion tasks were given to the sample group in both arrangements to understand their effects on students’ attention, concentration and participation. In addition to these, while respondents were being observed, photographs and videos were also taken and they were analyzed later. After the observations, a questionnaire was given iii to the group and descriptive statistics was done with SPSS 21.0 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). It was found that students tend to be more attentive and more concentrated on the lecture in straight row arrangement and they tend to participate more actively in U- Shape arrangement of the lecture room. The observations coincided with the students’ perception on these aspects as shown by their responses of the questionnaire. In terms of space use and preferences the research shows that if students want to concentrate more, they seem to choose seats where they are closer to instructor. Finally, it was seen that students tend to be more tolerant in terms personal space when they sit next to their close friends.Item Open Access Immigrants, citizenship and political cction in Europe(Cambridge University Press, 2012) Just, A.; Anderson, C. J.Little is known about how immigrants participate in politics and whether they transform political engagement in contemporary democracies. This study investigates whether citizenship (as opposed to being foreign-born) affects political and civic engagement beyond the voting booth. It is argued that citizenship should be understood as a resource that enhances participation and helps immigrants overcome socialization experiences that are inauspicious for political engagement. The analysis of the European Social Survey data collected in nineteen European democracies in 2002-03 reveals that citizenship has a positive impact on political participation. Moreover, citizenship is a particularly powerful determinant of un-institutionalized political action among individuals who were socialized in less democratic countries. These findings have important implications for debates over the definition of and access to citizenship in contemporary democracies. Copyright © 2011 Cambridge University Press.Item Open Access Spatial-making of urban populism: The case of post-gezi Taksim(2023-08) Kaynar, MelekThis thesis explores public participation in the production of space through the recent history of Taksim Square, analyzing the “Taksim Square Urban Design Competition” (2020) and the structure “Kavuşma Durağı” (2020). The thesis refers to Chantal Mouffe’s discussions on the democratic possibilities of populism (left populist strategy) and examines the role of left “urban” populism in repairing democratic values. Asking the question, “What kind of a role can space design play in contributing to democratic urban politics?” the study addresses design competitions with voting systems through discussions about public participation. Linking the recent participatory design attempts with Gezi Protests, the thesis reframes the production of “public space” through “urban populism” in the Turkish context. As examples of left urban populism, those space-making initiations mediate the repair of democracy by improving public contestation and dissensus concepts in the urban sphere and discursive space, and they provide re-politicization of governance and citizens.