Özet:

This article aims at measuring societal polarization, which is greatly on public agenda in recent years, on political, ethnic and sectarian basis by using Bogardus’s the concept of social distance. Based on the findings of a field study, the article measures social distance between the main ethnic groups (Turk-Kurd), sectarian groups (Sunni-Alawite) and voters of major political parties (AKP-CHP-MHP-BDP). Relying on the findings, we analyze the degree of polarization and its effects on societal security. One of the major findings is that social distance between voters of political parties is greater than greater than ethnic and sectarian based social distance, and that social distance at the political level covers social distance at ethnic as well as sectarian levels. Additionally, our findings show that identities which can be considered as part of high culture has more social distance compared to the minority identities. 

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