A sociological research on ethnicity, religion and identity construction: Arab Alewites

Arab Alawites are an ethno-religious community that lives extensively in the region containing Turkey, Syria, Lebanon. They have established a structure based on secrecy in order to protect their traditions and beliefs. Arab Alawites, who have lived in this region for centuries within the multicultural structure of Turkey, are one of the essential elements of the society. The understanding of the nation-state model built by modernism to create a homogeneous society led to the start of a new process called identity politics in the West, especially after 1980. In Turkey as well, during these years, it can be observed that different social segments are in identity-based discussions. In this study, identity is discussed in terms of the distinctions between "us and them" in daily life, and it is tried to be explained with the effects of both the qualities of the environment in which we are involved at birth and with the effects of encounters in social life. In this research, in which qualitative research techniques were used, in-depth interviews were conducted with 45 participants from the provinces of Hatay, Adana and Mersin. The interpretation of the findings was made with the Descriptive Analysis approach. According to the research findings, the group's internal view of itself and daily relations with other social segments are decisive in the construction of Arab Alawites' identity. Although there are critical approaches to religion and belief, religion still maintains its importance today. In addition, today they are exposed to various prejudiced attitudes and behaviors just because of being Arab Alawites. In addition, Arab Alawites, who see themselves as a minority or the other in the society they live in, do not see themselves as equal citizens of this country. Differentiating among themselves, Arab Alawites attach great importance to the preservation and transmission of their identities, and they tend to be introverted, albeit at various levels.