Comparative analysis of peace perceptions of secondary school students from different nationalities (Turkish, Syrian, Latvian, Ukrainian)

It is believed that the approach of identifying and comparing the peace perceptions of child citizens of different nationalities can create an important opportunity to reveal the different dimensions of peace, to understand it more holistically, to teach, protect and develop it. It is believed that this approach can be a guide to prevent violence, resolve conflicts peacefully, understand and create conditions conducive to peace at all levels and platforms, and in this way, peace education and peace research can be grounded more effectively. This study was conducted to determine and comparatively examine the peace perceptions of secondary school students of different nationalities (Turkish, Syrian, Latvian, Ukrainian). The study group of the research consists of 32 students studying in one secondary school in Sakarya, Türkiye, Jelgava, Latvia and Lviv, Ukraine in the 2023-2024 academic year. The research was conducted within the framework of phenomenology research design, one of the qualitative research methods. Interview technique was used in the research. The data collection tools used in the study consisted of the "student interview form about peace perception", "student metaphor form about peace perception" and "student drawing form about peace perception" developed by the researcher. The data obtained were analyzed by descriptive analysis method. As a result of the analysis, it was concluded that Turkish and Syrian students most intensively used expressions corresponding to interpersonal peace level, Latvian and Ukrainian students most intensively used expressions corresponding to global peace level. It was concluded that in peace perceptions of the pictures they drew for "a more peaceful world", Turkish and Ukrainian students most intensively drew pictures that corresponded to sources of social peace, Syrian students most intensively drew pictures that corresponded to sources of internal peace, and Latvian students most intensively drew pictures that corresponded to sources of peace with nature. It was determined that Turkish and Syrian students most intensively developed metaphors corresponding to the categories of social peace, Latvian and Ukrainian students most intensively developed metaphors corresponding to the categories of functions of peace. In addition it was concluded that all Turkish, Syrian, Latvian and Ukrainian students most intensely used expressions corresponding to the personal level of peace in their feelings towards the peace atmosphere. It was determined that in their views on the contributions of an environment of peace to a country and society, Turkish students most frequently used statements corresponding to the following positive peace values: freedom from fears, freedom from needs, and economic growth and development. Syrian students most intensely used statements corresponding to the following positive peace values: freedom from needs. Latvian students most intensely used statements corresponding to the following positive peace values: freedom from fears. Ukrainian students most intensely used statements corresponding to the following positive peace values: cooperation and freedom from fears. Considering the results of the research and the studies conducted in the literature, it can be said that there are similarities and differences in the peace perceptions of secondary school students from different nationalities.