Active citizenship in Turkey: learning citizenship in civil society organizations

Abstract

This article analyzes whether participation in civil society organizations (CSOs) in Turkey enables the learning of active citizenship. I conceptualize active citizenship along two axes. The first axis includes its defining dimensions (civic action, cohesion, self-actualization) while the second axis includes the types of learning (cognitive, pragmatic, affective) active citizenship requires. The study presents in-depth analysis of participant experiences in four CSOs in Turkey. Data are derived from semi-structured interviews with CSO members and volunteers. Findings reveal the mechanisms that link changes which occur to CSO participants to the various dimensions of active citizenship. The analysis points toward the potential for change in how citizenship is both learned and practiced in Turkey.

Keywords::

• active citizenship
• civic education
• civil society organization
• Turkey
• citizenship

Acknowledgement

I am grateful to Bahar Rumelili and the two anonymous reviewers of Citizenship Studies for their invaluable comments on several drafts of this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

^1. Mor Çatı is a civil society organization that provides support for women who are victims of physical abuse.