CIAO DATE: 07/2013
Volume: 7, Issue: 1
January 2012
Mesut Hazır
Muticulturalism has appeared and needed as a theory while different societies or ethnicities living together. Both immigrant countries and societies which are together for hundreds of years have caused and produced problems about living together either from the very beginning or as new needs and world views have appeared within time. Whereas monist views were common before, it has been discovered later that such philosophies aren't sufficient for societies and multiculturalist views have appeared. Even though multiculturalism has been a reality throughout history, it is very new as a world view or ideology.In this study, classical liberal views which represent monist side and multicultiralist views that represent pluralist side have been compared and contemporary contributions have been analysed.
Between Assimilation And Multiculturalism Rethinking The American Mainstream (PDF)
İrfan Haşlak, Mustafa Kemal Şan
Today pluralism has almost become the natural structure of all societies. As a result of globalization, the democratization process of plural identities have increased all over the world. Especially after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, the condition of separation of the world in two parts ended. Since that date we have been living in a small village, as mentioned by Marshal McLuhan, a famous Canadian communications scientist. We can find huge diversity in some countries. In Europe many countries such as England, Germany, France, Switzerland and Sweden live great diversity. Whether they define their state as multicultural or not, ethnic diversities is an undeniable reality of our epoch. The United States is one of the most diverse societies in the world. Although the United States government doesn't define their country as a multicultural state, we can still define its as a multicultural society.However, it is possible to argue that America faced a serious dilemma regarding cultural diversity, especially after the events of September 11. Islamophia which gained momentum at the end of this process, by crossing the Atlantic, has recently started to be effective in Europe. This process leads to serious problems, even in countries which are characterized as accepting multiculturalism. The present work endeavours to deal with multicultural experiences that the USA has witnessed since the big immigrationflux appeared.
Multiculturalism As The Application Multiculturalism Canada (PDF)
Ertan Özensel
One of the most important problems that confront today's societies is "ensuring cohabitation of differences on the basis of equality and peace". As of today, barring a few, almost all of the current states are heterogenous in terms of ethinicity, religion and denomination, so it can be seen that this is a global problem. Although multiculturalism as a modern concept is frequently used in Common wealth countries, Canada can be highlighted as a country of model practice regarding multiculturalism. When we take into consideration the conditions of Canada in its foundation, we observe that from the very beginning, the country interpreted differences in a way to foster unity, not separation. Moreover, the quality that makes Canada a model practice in terms of multiculturalism is that two nations, i.e. the English and the French, are founding elements. Formed on the basis of two nations-one state, Canada experienced some controversies and conflicts in its inception arising from these differences, but it is considered one of the countries that solved this problem in the best possible way politically.
The Millet System and the Assyrians in the Ottoman Empire (PDF)
Ebubekir Sofuoğlu, İlke Nur Akvarup
After the establishment, while expanding its territory, Ottoman power dominated over variety of non-Muslim ,society. And the empire must produce new policies for its ,new subjects. For this reason "The Millet System" helps, the ottoman empire establish a relation with its non- Muslim subjects in harmony. This study tries to explain, Assyrians historical development process which lived from 16. Century without part of millet system, under the Ottoman rule. This order is not only consist of the period of Ottoman rule, it is mentioned, primarily, how the Assyrians became Christian, and conflicts between the Roman state, and then where Assyrians stand for during the period of differentiation in Christianity. Assyrians met the Islamic rule during the period of caliph Omar, after this time they live freely their religion rituals and their traditions. In the last part of study, there was mentioned, problems with Armenians patriarchate, which Assyrians were subjected, and how Ottoman Empire deal with problems and how the Assyrians relations with state.
2011 Spain Elections and The Reasons of The Rising of Basque Left (PDF)
Ömer Behram Özdemir
In 2011 Spain had a year of elections which changed the government but also changed the Basque politics. Under the Bildu and Amaiur coalitions Abertzale left gained a huge success at both general and local elections. While centralist parties PP and PSE were loosing votes and autonomist-traditionalist PNV was making no headway, with the results which Bildu and Amaiur coalitions got Abertzale left had shown that in this era which ETA is weakened politics is the only solution for the Basque problem. In this article the social and political reasons of the rising of Basque left will be discussed on the process of 2011 elections.
Impact of the Recent Political Conflicts on Turkish and Turkey Images in Israeli Society (PDF)
Fikret Efe
Purpose of this study is to examine influence of the recent political conflicting events on Turkish and Turkey images in Israeli society. Turkey and Israel relations in the 1990s have changed drastically in recent years after Israel's sudden attacks on Gaza in 2008, and killed more than 1400 people. Later on, Prime Minister Erdogan showed his rigid reaction at Davos Summit, and finally with Mavi Marmara crises, already deteriorated relations have worsened. Therefore, the political conflicts between Turkey and Israel have been addressed as a priority. The study is basically a survey, but it also used qualitative data through interviews and observations in the field. A sample of 611 respondents was chosen through quota and random sampling procedures. We have thrown a glance at these political conflictive issues first, and then measured how and to what extent they have affected Turkey and Turkish image in Israeli society, and tried to determine what factors are the most crucial in the image formation.The study has suggested that the recent political crises do have a strong effect not only on the states and governmental relations but also on the Israeli people's perceptions and evaluations of Turkish and Turkey images. Thus, the study has provided an overall contribution to the lag in the field; to country image theory, image building, and a better understanding the country image in general.
Self-Orientalization: Modernity Within Ourselves or Internalized Modernization (PDF)
Bünyamin Bezci, Yusuf Çifci
New approaches in International Relations Theory necessitate new foreign policy analyses of state actions. Changes in international system and environment also make possible both variations in new foreign policy tools and meaning structures of social settings states find themselves in. Institutional change is of particular relevance in this regard. Turkish Foreign Policy also discovers new dimensions and venues for its new found active outlook in many regional contexts as opposed to its old fashioned static outlook. This study focuses on Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA). TIKA is a solid exemplar of the institutionalization of the new found activism in foreign policy making employed mainly by the new social and political actors. This article analyses the dramatic increase in TIKA's manifold projects and diverse activities from the perspective of social constructivism.
TIKA as a Foreign Policy Tool (PDF)
Tuncay Kardaş, Ramazan Erdağ
New approaches in International Relations Theory necessitate new foreign policy analyses of state actions. Changes in international system and environment also make possible both variations in new foreign policy tools and meaning structures of social settings states find themselves in. Institutional change is of particular relevance in this regard. Turkish Foreign Policy also discovers new dimensions and venues for its new found active outlook in many regional contexts as opposed to its old fashioned static outlook. This study focuses on Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA). TIKA is a solid exemplar of the institutionalization of the new found activism in foreign policy making employed mainly by the new social and political actors. This article analyses the dramatic increase in TIKA's manifold projects and diverse activities from the perspective of social constructivism.
Political Communication in The Light of Theory of Communicative Action and the case of AK Party (PDF)
Yılmaz Yıldırım
Habermas's work The Theory of Communicative Action can be regarded as an attempt to unite social sciences with linguistic concepts. In the words of Habermas, social world is an organized linguistic form of society in a sense. To state differently, since social domain bears the traces of a linguistic logic, it is quite plausible to treat the norms of social action the same way as linguistic norms. Habermas argues that the normative and rational dimensions of such norms of communicative action involve; claims for validity, argumentation procedures, discourse ethics and communicative rationality. Equating such norms of communication with the norms of social/political action corresponds to equating a valid and effective action with another valid and effective speech. Nonetheless the tight link that the dimensions of speech and communicative action build with "life world" culture necessitates conducting language analysis in socio-linguistic style. The researches on political communication within Turkey view political communication basically as a paradigm of voter persuasion. Yet, in reality, political communication should be handled in a farther aspect as the political dimension of social communication. Furthermore while conducting political language analyses the scope should be extended beyond style, rhetoric and ethics and attention should be paid to discursive structure of the life worlds where the constituting political culture and their connections with the presented political discourse are embedded. Indeed the range and impact of political message is contingent upon not only verbally transferred expressions as the conveyor elements but also the transfer and share of unspoken meanings (statements that are not expressed but shared) pertaining to life worlds. Such "unspoken meanings" are actually basic components constituting the life world and language where communication takesplace. Should the subject matter involves politics and ideology- phenomenons with intense meanings- the language and communication analysis is required to take into account socio-linguistic background of political language and its actors. In that respect the concepts and principles of communicative action which Habermas describes as a democratic and ideal state of speech shall provide major developments in the analysis of political language grammar which is quite a problematic case in Turkey. As an attempt to test political communication in Turkey via communicative action, by structuring its perspective on a political communicative form that can build connections with the language of our life worlds, present research aims to render contribution to the analyses focusing on current political discourse.
Ali Arslan
This study investigates the impact of "available usage of human-social capital"on organizational productivity and performance from a sociological perspective and tries to explain the relationship between these two variables. The purpose of the study is to show that the human-social sub system which includes human-social capital (Leadership, behaviours, motivation, communication, human relations and group dynamics) has the priority in comparison with the other sub-systems (e.i. physical, technological, tasks etc.) of the whole organizational system in gaining productivity and performance in organizations. The study includes the results obtained during workshops with the staff of Sakarya city Branch of PTT (Turkish Post and Telegraph Organization) moderated by the researcher himself. Data was collected through participative observation, Pareto analysis, brain storming and questionnaires techniques. It was found that there is a relationship between two variables; the availabe usage of human-social capital has a positive impact on organizational productivity and performance. Therefore we need more management approaches which support the human relations and social capital in their organizations and prepare available environment for the staff.
Nature and Basic Resources of the State in Namık Kemal (PDF)
Kenan Çağan
Namık Kemal is one of the most important figures in the new Ottoman ideas. Namık Kemal has contributed significantly to the intellectual agenda both him area and the next area of him. The most exciting side of Namık Kemal who has pioneering ideas on many cases is to chew on a new theory of politics. On the one hand while adhering to Islamic and national values and on the other hand leaning heavily on the political opportunities of western liberal democracy he wanted to create a new political opportunity. He desired constitutional monarchy form of government. The survival of the state creates motivation of theory of politics.
The Classification of Living Beings in the Stories of Depegoz and Polyphemus (PDF)
Fatma Berna Yıldırm
The certain similarity between the Depegoz story of The Book of Dede Korkut and the Polyphemus episode of Odyssey was discovered in the beginning of XIX th century and this discovery launched a discussion. In course of time the scope of discussion has expanded with the involvement of hundreds of similar stories. But the prevailing approach in this comparative discussion remained extremely ahistorical. Therefore this article tries to scrutinize the interpretation history of the Depegoz story first, and then offers an analysis of this story. This analysis bases on the common theme of "the classification of living beings" which characterizes both texts. The aim of this analysis is to supply some arguments on the original ethical concerns of the Depegoz story and its possible historical connection with the Odyssey.
Aydın Yılmazer
The relation between corporate commitment and employee performance has been studied in the academic literature for notable manufacturing industries and also for service sector. But according to literature review, it has been seen that such studies regarding civil governments has received little attention from academics. From this viewpoint, the aim of the study is to ascertain whether there is a relationship between the corporate commitment perceived by the employees and their performance at Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality. For this purpose, to inquire to what extent corporate commitment affects on employee performance, data were collected, in June and July, 2011, from the 276 respondents participaded in the survey. In this context, the corporate commitment and performance evaluation have been studied first, and then the link between them has been examined. A Corporate Commitment Scale which was defined by Porter, vd. (1974), has been enhanced and used in order to measure corporate commitment of the employees (n=267). A Performance Evaluation Questionnaire also has been reformed and used by utilizing a previous questionnaire developed by Uygur (2007). Study results indicate that, by 99 % confidence interval, there is a significant and positive relation between corporate commitment and employee performance. But, the results show that this relation is a low level and poor relation (r=0,273) in the meantime.
The Root Causes of Zimbabwe's Crisis and the Transition Period (PDF)
Cengiz Dinç
Especially after 2000, Zimbabwe has plunged into a deep economic and political crisis that increasingly drew attention of the international community. This study,, after analyzing the process that brought the country to its current difficult situation; the roots of the clash between the regime and its opponents; and international repercussions of the crisis, tries to analyze the recent developments with regard to the critical transition period that the country passing through. Authoritarianization of the failed Mugabe regime, the long and arduous land reform process, food insecurity and the drought, collapse of the basic government services such as health and education have been the root causes of the crisis. The lack of security sector reform and a free and fair election milieu are emphasized as the most vital problems that the country must solve in order to have a transition to normalcy.