Geleneksel Alevilikten Modern Aleviliğe: Tarihsel Bir Dönüşümün Ana Eksenleri

Abstract

This paper rests on the conventional wisdom that the Alevi identity is experiencing a radical transformation. The new Alewism that is coming out of this transformation process, which has started in the second half of the twentieth century and is still ongoing, shows differences from the historical Alewism in many aspects. Hence, using the same term for these two Alewism would lead us to a semantic ambiguity. In order to avoid such an ambiguity this paper suggests employing two different terms as "Traditional Alewism" and "Modern Alewism" According to this postulation, the Traditional Alewism, which is historically inherited, is being transformed into the Modern Alewism during modern times. This article essays to delineate the main axes of this transformation process and analyzes governing dynamics of this transformation through determined axes. Furthermore, through these axes, it compares and contrasts the Modern Alewism and the Traditional Alewism, as well as discussing fields of continuity and discontinuity. Finally, it concludes by highlighting some major challenges that Modern Alewism is posed during its restructuring process.