Alevism erception of Tunceli Alevis living in Gazi neighborhood

Turkey has rapidly changed in the social, cultural, economic, and traditional fields over the past century. This transformation has led to the replacement of structures that were previously accepted unquestioningly by society with legal structures organized by the modern state. The modern state has begun to implement this transformation on a large scale in urban areas using various instruments it has established. Looking at the country's history, people who left rural areas for various reasons around the mid-twentieth century gathered in major cities, creating areas where rural social and cultural institutions were influential. Particularly, some areas in large cities have turned into regions dominated by social and cultural institutions born out of rural life for many years. Over time, the communities living in these areas redefined some social and cultural institutions with more comprehensive functions in the rural areas within the narrow framework of the city due to the relationships they established with other urban regions. With the impact of urbanization, modernization, and industrialization, the fundamental institutions of Alevism, which had a decisive function in social order in rural areas, have started to transform into modern legal institutions. These institutions, which held social, cultural, and economic status in rural areas, have become structures with almost exclusively religious functions as they weakened in urban environments. This process has compelled traditional Alevi institutions to redefine their social and cultural roles in cities. Urbanization and modernization have created significant changes in the texture of the Alevism faith, leaving deep impacts on the community's identity and religious practices. This study examines the effects of urbanization on the fundamental institutions of Tunceli Alevism in Gazi Neighborhood, where Alevis who migrated from Tunceli to Istanbul live densely. Gazi Neighborhood stands out as an area where Alevis who migrated from rural to urban areas strive to maintain their cultural and religious identities. The study analyzes the effects of the changes experienced in this neighborhood through field research. During the research, voice recordings were taken during interviews conducted in the neighborhood, and methods of observation, interview, and in-depth interview were utilized. The effects of urbanization on Tunceli Alevism have been examined in detail through the example of Gazi Neighborhood, and significant findings regarding the changing nature of the faith in this process have been obtained. These findings provide valuable insights into Tunceli Alevism in general and shed light on the future trajectory of the faith. Keywords: Alevism, Tunceli Alevism, Hızır, Musahiplik, Urbanization