Local Children's Perception and Experience of Nationalism and Citizenship in a Turkish Elementary Mainstream School

• In Event: Civic Identities and Democratic Education

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the perception and experience of nationality and citizenship of local children in Turkey. This phenomenological study was derived from observations of and interviews with local children before a creative drama workshop series aimed to promote the integration between Syrian refugee children and local children. We show that local children have three different approaches in perceiving and experiencing Turkish nationalism, patriotism, and citizenship: belonging, moral dilemma, self/othering. We found that children are considerably aware of the monolingual and monoethnic norms in Turkish society, and they are performing the “desired” mainstream Turkish identity to blend into society.

Authors

• Muge Olgun-Baytas, Pennsylvania State University - Abington

• Seyma Dagistan, The Pennsylvania State University