2020 Volume 94 Issue 2 Pages 137-164
This article aims to elucidate continuity and changes of Alevis and Alevilik (Alevi-ness, or Alevism) of the Turkish peoples who either transfer from rural districts to urban areas within Turkey or move from Turkey to Germany as transnational immigrants. By doing so, this article also aims to illustrate broader issues of religion and border crossing among these Turkish transcultural movers.
Data examined were collected from field research conducted in Turkey and Europe during the period of 1996-2018.
The Alevilik is an unclear concept which has been regarded both as a religion and a culture. This paper looks at how traditional Alevilik or Alevi-ness has established its place in urban and secular societies and communities that have multi-cultural traits, and where Islam or Christianity stand out as a mainstream social environment. The article also elucidates how Alevilik attuned to and adjusted to these societies and communities, where different peoples and various value-systems co-exist.
Alevis have experienced changes of “traditional” Alevilik in urban environments in the course of transborder and transboundary moving, and through interactions with different cultures. As a result, an urban or “city Alevilik” emerged. It is within this context of transculturality, transnationality, migration, and urbanization that religious networks of mutual aid have spread through religious associations among Alevi communities in urban Turkey and Europe.
