Differentiating of the function of ulku ocaklari at local level: The case of Alanya and Etimesgut

The subject of this study is to examine how the function of Ülkü Ocakları works at the local level. The main purpose of this study is not to compare the old and the new or to compare the local and central, bur to focus only on the local. It is claimed that Ülkü Ocakları are the places where the political socialization of the youth branches and party members of the Nationalist Movement Party happens in this study. It is also claimed that the ideological discourses of Ülkü Ocakları differ in the local level. In order to test these claims, the cases of Ülkü Ocakları Alanya and Etimesgut were examined. In this study, it will be claimed that Alanya Ülkü Ocakları adopt more Turkistic discourses, while Etimesgut Ülkü Ocakları adopt more Islamic discourse. Almost all discourses of Ülkü Ocakları are based on nationalism. Considering that the Nationalist Movement Party is the leader of nationalist policies, it is claimed that the nationalist rhetoric of Ülkü Ocakları cannot be considered independent of the rhetoric of the party. In this context, both the organization of the political party and the concept of nationalism and theories of nationalism are conveyed without scrutinizing deeply. The development of Turkish nationalism is conveyed through Turkist ideologues. Keywords: Political Parties, Nationalism, Nationalist Movement Party, Ülkü Ocakları, Alanya Ülkü Ocakları, Etismesgut Ülkü Ocakları.