Alevi organizations after the 1980s in İzmir and their importance for the Alevi identity

The aim of this study is to discover the main objectives, importance and the activities of the Alevi Organizations developed after the 1980s in Izmir. Also, this empiric sociological study it intends to uncover the importance of Alevi organizations for the Alevi Identity as well as their roles and functions they play in order to protect and reproduce the Alevi identity. In this study we try to discover the affects of Alavi organizations on the Alevi identity that established in last twenty years. For this, we examined the aims, functions, futures and the principles of some of the Alevi organizations in Izmir. Participatory observation and structured questioner used in order to examine the functions and the activities undertaken by these organisations in order to identify, protect and maintain the Alevi identity. Before we examine the Alevi organisations, we dealt with the definitions of various identity types and defined Alevi identity accordingly. Than we argue that Alevi identity is a cultural identity. In addition, we tried to find out the impacts of urbanization on Alevi identity. To do this, we examined, by using participatory observation and structured questionnaire, some of Alevi organizations such as Pir Sultan Abdal Culture Association, Hacı Bektaş Veli Culture Association, and Cem evleri in Izmir. The data gathered from the fieldwork analyzed by using the SPSS 9.0 software program and interpreted. This study comprised of three sections: the conceptual framework, methodology and ethnics, and the findings of the fieldwork.