CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION SPECIFICS IN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY

• Published in: Koncept: filosofiâ, religiâ, kulʹtura no. 1; pp. 65 - 75
• Main Authors: V. A. Avatkov, A. I. Pavlova
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: MGIMO University Press 01-03-2017
• Subjects: cross-cultural communication; cross-cultural policy; justice and development party; kurdish issue; kurds; millet; minorities in turkey; ottoman empire; turkey; turkish language
• ISSN: 2541-8831; 2619-0540

The article presents modern specifics of Turkish cross-cultural policy. Having passed through several stages, Turkish modern intercultural policy represents “one nation - one country - one language” scheme introduced by Ataturk which in fact puts national and religious minorities into a vulnerable position. Moreover Turkish government acknowledges only Jews, Greeks and Armenians as minority groups that brings up the problem of cultural minority recognition. Cross-cultural communication legal aspects in Turkey are also analyzed within the article. Remarkably, Turkey doesn’t have any laws aimed at regulating intercultural policy; moreover even the Constitution of the Republic lacks the issue. From a legal perspective, Turkish intercultural policy is being implemented on the basis of few articles of various laws, which are vague and broad wording and may be interpreted in the interests of the state. Kurdish issue is a major challenge of the Turkish cross-cultural policy. At the end of the XX century Kurdish struggle for national rights and autonomy dissolved into armed conflict forcing Ankara to make some concessions. However such matters as recognition of Kurds as a minority, introduction of Kurmanji/Zaza in Kurdish schools and the use of the national language in press are left pending. The dialog between the government and Kurdish delegates is complicated by Kurds aspirations for autonomy and Republic’s intention to preserve its integrity. Overall, Republic of Turkey is very considerate of both its territorial and cultural integrity resulting in “one nation - one country - one language” policy implementation concerning cross-cultural communication.