The women’s movement in Turkey challenged: the AKP factor
Author
Mustafa, Gyulyuzar
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2017
Submitted on
2017-05-30
Pages
63
Abstract
Tyrkiet har tiltrådt flere internationale traktater om kvinders rettigheder, men der er stadig markante tilbageskridt. Under det regerende Retfærdigheds- og Udviklingsparti (AKP) har et patriarkalsk syn indirekte påvirket dagsordenen for NGO’er for kvinders rettigheder. I takt med at islamisk orienterede grupper har overtaget pladsen fra tidligere sekulære organisationer, er nogle indsatser blevet omlagt til at se kvinder primært som omsorgspersoner, der skal opfostre en "from generation". Samtidig arbejder kvindebevægelsen for bedre levevilkår, for at ændre holdninger og kultur og for at anerkende kvinder som selvstændige individer. Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan forskellige organisationer i nutidens Tyrkiet positionerer sig i forhold til regeringens restriktioner og i forhold til kvindebevægelsen generelt. Jeg argumenterer for, at selv om NGO’erne deler målet om at forbedre kvinders liv, er deres arbejdsfelter, strategier og forståelser ofte forskellige – og nogle gange i konflikt – hvilket påvirker deres relationer til AKP-regeringen. På trods af forskellene peger mine fund på, at alle de interviewede organisationer arbejder i den samme stærkt politiserede og omstridte virkelighed. Deres evne til at fortsætte arbejdet under de nuværende pres ser ud til at forene dem mere, end det skiller. Studiet anvender en kombination af metoder: tre semistrukturerede interviews og to selvadministrerede spørgeskemaer med tyrkiske NGO’er for kvinders rettigheder. Det omfatter perspektiver fra kemalistiske (sekulære, inspireret af Atatürk), islamistiske (religiøst orienterede) og venstreorienterede organisationer. For at rammesætte analysen anvendes to teoretiske perspektiver: NGO-regeringsrelationer (Hvordan civilsamfundsorganisationer interagerer med staten) og sociale bevægelser (Kollektive bestræbelser på at skabe social forandring). Afhandlingen bidrager til en bedre forståelse af relationerne mellem NGO’er og regering i Tyrkiet og konkluderer, at brede generaliseringer er problematiske, fordi de i høj grad afhænger af den aktuelle politiske og sociale situation.
Turkey has ratified several international treaties on women’s rights, yet significant setbacks remain. Under the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), a patriarchal outlook has indirectly steered the agendas of women’s rights NGOs. As Islamically oriented groups have replaced former secular organizations, some advocacy has reframed women mainly as caregivers tasked with raising a "pious generation." At the same time, the women’s movement continues to push for better living conditions, changes in social attitudes, and recognition of women as autonomous individuals. This thesis examines how different women’s rights organizations in contemporary Turkey position themselves toward government-imposed restrictions and toward the broader movement. I argue that, although these NGOs share the aim of improving women’s lives, their fields of work, strategies, and interpretations often differ—and sometimes conflict—which in turn shapes their relationships with the AKP government. Despite these differences, my findings indicate that all of the organizations interviewed operate in the same highly politicized and contested context. Their ability to continue working under current pressures tends to unite them more than divide them. The study uses a mixed-methods approach: three semi-structured interviews and two self-administered questionnaires with Turkish women’s rights NGOs. It includes perspectives from Kemalist (secular, Atatürk-inspired), Islamist (religion-oriented), and left-wing organizations. To frame the analysis, I draw on two theoretical perspectives: NGO–government relations (how civil society groups interact with the state) and social movements (collective efforts to drive social change). The thesis contributes to understanding NGO–government dynamics in Turkey and concludes that broad generalizations are problematic because these relationships depend heavily on current political and social conditions.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
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