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Diyarbakır-based Socio-Political Field Research Center conducted a survey with young people about their political preferences.
As part of this study, 580 young people (aged 15-34) from Turkey's Kurdish-majority Diyarbakır, Mardin, Van, Şırnak, Hakkari and Batman provinces participated in survey on July 6-16.
The Center has recently announced the findings of this study, which offers an insight into how young people in southeast Turkey define themselves politically and how they approach Turkey's problems.
According to the survey results, 54.2 percent of young Kurdish people do not trust any institutions or organizations in Turkey. The majority of them agree that Kurdish question is the major problem of Turkey.
Yüksel Genç, the Coordinator of the Center, has commented on the survey results for bianet. Noting that there are political transformations unfolding among the Kurdish youth, he has briefly said:
'They don't trust, but not without hope'
"The study sends very important messages. Over 50 percent of young Kurdish people do not trust any institutions or organizations.
"In the 1990s, there was no trust for state institutions, but there was still trust for existing structures and non-governmental organizations. We have seen a breaking point, a retreat now.
"Kurdish youth do not trust, but they are not without hope. They do not consider problems to be impossible to solve. They are making suggestions about how to solve them. Despite high rates of unemployment and poverty, Kurdish question is still seen as the most important problem.
"When the solutions offered to solve this problem are considered, local governments and a system of federation come to the forefront. The region where we conducted the research is the political provinces of Turkey, the answers are very important for that reason.
'A significant number of them want to leave Turkey'
"Moreover, young Kurdish people are going through a political transformation. There is especially a tendency towards ecologist, feminist, socialist and anarchist thoughts among the new generation.
"They are leaning to rights-based political thoughts and a significant number of them say that they can move to another country.
"The rate of those who say this is the highest among the youngest group. They want it because they want to live in a livable country. They feel that their living space has shrunk.
"Another important detail from the study is this: 39 percent of the participants say that they can change the party that they vote for.
"It means that the parties except for the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) can use this niche. However, this needs to be kept in mind: They do not say 'No matter what', they say 'If it fits my worldview."
Some highlights from the study are as follows:
67 percent say 'I would move to another country'
The participants of the survey are first asked, 'If you had the means, would you move to another country?" While 67.5 percent answer this question in the affirmative, 32.5 percent say that they would not.
Of the ones who say 'Yes,' 31.2 percent want to move to another country for "better living conditions," 12.30 percent due to "lack of living conditions in Turkey," 11.70 percent due to "economic hardships," 9.60 percent for "employment opportunities" and 7.70 percent due to "pressures."
While 63 percent of women participants want to leave Turkey for good, this rate is 70.5 percent among men. 92.7 percent of the ones aged 15-19 also say that they would like to move to another country.
94 base their political attitudes on their worldviews
When the participants are asked whether they closely follow the political developments, 65.4 percent say "frequently." While 85 percent say that they follow these developments "on Internet platforms/social media," 11 percent say "Television" and 4 percent say "printed press."
Participants are also asked "how they define their possibility of changing the political party that they vote for in the next elections." 59 percent answer that "they would not change the party very easily." 27.percent say that "they would vote for a party that suits their worldviews."
Only 1.3 percent answer that "they will not change the party that they vote for under any circumstances."
"When developing a political attitude, what factors affect you most," the participants are also asked, to which 94.2 percent answer, "The values I believe in/my worldview." While 3.8 percent say they base their views on their "Family," only 0.6 percent say "political parties."
'How do you define your political worldview?'
Within this context, when they are asked about the political worldviews of their families, the participants answer as follows:
34.6 percent "patriotic", 22.5 percent "democrat", 10.4 percent "conservative", 10.4 percent "religious", 9.4 percent "socialist", 6.7 percent "with no political worldviews", 2.9 percent "liberal", 1.7 percent "nationalist", 0.8 percent "feminist" and 0.6 percent "ecologist."
When their own political worldviews are asked, they anwer:
30.8 percent "patriotic", 24 percent "democrat", 22.7 percent "socialist", 4.6 percent "religious", 4 percent "conservative", 3.8 percent "feminist", 3.1 percent "nationalist", 2.9 percent "with no political worldviews", 1.9 percent "ecologist", 1.7 percent "liberal" and 0.6 percent "anarchist."
24 percent say 'no party can solve problems'
When the participants are asked about the current political situation of the country, 88.3 percent define it as "bad" and 11.6 percent as "good."
"What do you think is the biggest problem of Turkey," they are also asked, to which they give the following six most frequent answers:
45.6 percent "Kurdish question", 17.3 percent "economy/unemployment", 14.2 percent "lack of democracy", 5.6 percent "the current state of the legal system", 5 percent "Presidential System" and 4.6 percent "government."
They also offer the following solutions to these problems: 17.7 percent of participants say "through democratic approaches," 15.2 percent "with dialogue and negotiation", 12.3 "with a change of government", 9.8 percent "with a new policy of economy", 7.7 percent "Kurds' acquirement of status" and 1 percent say "they cannot be solved."
While 56 percent of the participants say that those problems can be solved by the HDP, 24.2 percent indicate that "no political parties can solve them." 8.5 percent answer in favor of the ruling AKP.
The participants are also asked "Which institution or organization in Turkey is the most trustworthy." While 54.2 percent answer "None", 13.1 percent say "HDP," 5.2 percent say "the Human Rights Association (İHD)," 4.8 percent say "Health Ministry" and 3.1 percent say "the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF)."
Expectations, concerns...
When they are asked about their biggest expectations from the future, 23.8 percent of the young answer that it is "leading a just, free and humane life." 15.8 percent say they "do not have any expectations," 12.9 percent say "peace, fraternity and quiet", 12.3 percent say "living in a democratic country" and 6 percent say "they want to be appointed or to have a job or profession."
Their biggest concerns about the future are as follows:
12.9 percent "a further increase in unemployment", 9.8 percent "a further deterioration of the economy", 9.8 percent "war, global war policies", 9.2 percent "the current government remaining in power" and 8.5 percent "an escalation of conflicts and war/civil war."
While 18.5 percent of the participants say that they would solve the Kurdish problems if they were decision makers, only 7.7 percent say that they support the Presidential System.
When they are asked about "the best system for Turkey," 36.3 percent say "empowered local governments", 22.5 percent say "federative governments", 14.4 percent say "Parliamentary System", 10.2 percent say "empowered Parliamentary System" and 7.5 percent say "Presidential System." (RT/SD)
