The relationship between social exclusion and Muslim identity: iİstanbul Esenler sample universe

In this thesis, the relationship between social exclusion and Muslim identity will be analysed in the context of a case study conducted in Esenler, Istanbul by 457 respondents. This study will focus on social, cultural and political dimensions of social exclusion in addition to its economic dimension. It aims to find out changing patterns of unifying and persuasive power of religion in detail, while it concantrates on social exclusion together with Muslim identity. In Turkey; it is often a case that Muslim identity is not included in the social exclusion debates and it has been perceived as a homogenized and an individual exclusion element unlike the poverty and slums which are studied by the economic, political and social results. This lack of perspective in regards to Muslim identity and social exclusion will be fulfilled in this study and the relationship between these two factors is discussed in detail. Key words: Social Exclusion, Muslim Identity, Poverty, Esenler, Istanbul,