Cetin, U., Jenkins, C., Cosan-Eke, D. and Can, B. 2025. Forthcoming. Narratives in the politics of recognition of Alevis in the course of migration from Turkey to Western Europe since the 1960s. in: Religious and Non-Religious Narratives on Migration Vienna
| Chapter title | Narratives in the politics of recognition of Alevis in the course of migration from Turkey to Western Europe since the 1960s |
|---|---|
| Authors | Cetin, U., Jenkins, C., Cosan-Eke, D. and Can, B. |
| Abstract | The narratives of both Alevism and Alevis place considerable emphasis on the concepts of social justice, equality, and solidarity, which are fundamental tenets of their religion. These concepts have been shaped by the historical oppression of their beliefs in Turkey and the inclusive social practices they espouse. The chapter provides a comparative narrative framework of Alevis’ position in Turkey, Austria, and the United Kingdom (UK). Alevis are not officially recognized as a religious group in Turkey. Alevi organizations have constructed their own narratives on Alevism in the context of migration to assert their rights for recognition as a different and equal religion, which reflects a growing resistance against the state’s non-recognizing narrative on Alevism. Despite the existence of multiple narratives on the identity of Alevis in Austria, it is the first and only country to officially recognize Alevis as a religious community. In the UK, a singular narrative is currently emerging from the British Alevi Federation, delineating Alevism as distinct from Islam. In this sense, we understand the concept of narrative for migrant communities as subjective and flexible texts to self-position their public presence in alignment with the new social and political contexts they have encountered in the course of their migration. |
| Keywords | narratives of Alevi Associations |
| the politics of recognition of Alevis | |
| migration | |
| Alevis in Turkey, Austria, and the UK | |
| Book title | Religious and Non-Religious Narratives on Migration |
| Year | 2025 |
| Place of publication | Vienna |