21st century family in the historycal process

Key words: Extensive family, nucleus family, functions of family, modern paradigm It is an inevitable reality that changes in the world has a permanent continuity. Therefore, serenity regions are full of limitless dangers for those who are not ready to face with them. Societies, social structure and organizations of societies are influenced by these effects as well. I have prepared this research with the aim of defining influence of this change process on family institution and effects of these changes on Turkish family structure. We put forward that, changes of modern paradigms will have a global structure, traditional family model will be affected by this as well and family models will be under inevitable pressure of western type nucleus family model. However researches conducted recently, show that nucleus family model existed previously under different forms. For example Turkish family structure had this type family model as well. Indeed, while Turkish family model seem to have merits of nucleus family on the other side, inter familial relations had always extensive family model. On the other side of the coin, Turkish family model had democratic and emphatic characteristics in terms of love, respect, loyalty and etc. matters within the family. We conclude from this point that: each society has a "sui generis" family model since family is the basic institution where cultural modes are transferred to next generations and where individuals are socialized. Accordingly it should belong to society itself. In addition to these, within the globalization process certain developments in the world influence societies by means of education, press and mass media. Self-identity of the society is damaged in this process. While renewal of self-identity of society and individuals is necessary it should also be protected against outsiders. Institution of family has a very vital position and function in this regard. vm