The RWI Turkey Program annually awards grants for research projects related to human rights issues in Turkey. Each year a maximum of five researchers receive grants of up to 48,000 Swedish kronor from RWI for a six-month research period.
This year RWI received 63 applications and five research proposals have been granted after the evaluation by the Grant Jury in Turkey.
Below you can find more information on the research projects which were chosen:
“Remembering the Armenian Genocide a Century After: A Comparative Study on the Post memory of the Armenian Youth”
Aim of the Research: This research aims at analysing the constructed post memory of young Armenians, who constitute the fourth generation after 1915. Such an analysis is expected to provide a wider perspective on the memory that will be inherited onto the next generation of Armenians. The comprehension of the fourth generation as a constructed and constructing social category will provide an opportunity to determine the possible role of this generation in the politics of peace.
The research methodology: In order to provide an analysis for the memories of the Armenian youth, several parameters are designated, such as linguistic and cultural practices, religious belief, practices and ethical dispositions, knowledge on 1915 and familial memory, identity and daily life, researching the past and demands of memory and politics. The field study will be conducted in Yerevan of Armenia and Istanbul of Turkey. The research will employ in-depth interviews and participant observations as an approach of interpretive sociological methodology.
Reseach Team: Derya Fırat Şannan, Assistant Professor, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University; Öykü Gürpınar, PhD Student, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University; Öndercan Muti, PhD Student, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University; Fatma Özkaya, M.A. Student, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University.
Grant Received: 47,250 SEK
The role of the media in the dissemination of discrimination: A study of the News Coverage of Syrian Women Asylum Seekers in the Printed Press in Turkey.
Aim of the Research: The research aims to analyse news reports and columns in order to question the language of the mainstream media and to reveal its discursive strategies which help to reproduce the public prejudices against women asylum seekers in Turkey.
The research methodology: The research will analyse the news stories and columns in three mainstream newspapers selected on the basis of their daily circulation covering a period between April 1, 2011 and December 30, 2014. The research will use discourse analysis developed by Teun Van Dijk in his book “Recism and Press.”.
Research Team: Ülkü Doğanay, Prof., University of Ankara, Communication Department; Hatice Çoban Keneş, Assistant Professor, Tunceli University, Communication Department; Selin Öztürk, Research Assistant, Tunceli University, Communication Department
Grant received: 47,850 SEK
A Qualitative Research on the Çorum Massacre in Terms of ‘Right to Truth’ and ‘Truth Commissions
Aim of the Research: The Çorum Massacre in 1980 is a considerable event in Turkey’s history which resulted in serious human rights violation and crimes against humanity. This research aims to understand the importance of “right to truth” and “truth commission” as a resolution instrument in parties’ points of view. The essential question is whether establishing a truth commission to investigate this event will be an effective resolution for a social remedy and repair of continuing social problems in Çorum due to the 1980 Massacre.
The research methodology: The study builds upon the question of whether a possible truth commission will be a key to reveal what has actually happened in 1980 and a good remedy for current tension present in Çorum. The research is based on a normative theory in which the Çorum Massacre is a historical case and has specific characters. For that reason, a qualitative method will be applied in this case study.
Reseach Team: Dr. Veysel Dinler, Assistant Professor, Çorum University, Political Science; Ersin Topçuoğlu, MA Student, Marmara University, Political Science; Canberk Yılmaz, MA Student, Sakarya University, Economics and Social Politics
Grant received: 33,000 SEK
“(Pro)Feminist Fathers”
Aim of the research: The research aims at revealing how (pro) feminist fathers construct their roles of fatherhood. The research will try to find out the impacts of the roles of (pro)feminist fathers on the perception and sensibility of their children about gender equality, and to fill the gap in academia by searching on “being a (pro)feminist man” and “new fatherhood” in Turkey, while focusing both on the theory and everyday life activities.
The research methodology: The methodology will include an interpretive approach and qualitative method to provide some information about (pro) feminist fatherhood. Semi-structured forms will be prepared and in-depth interviews will be made to provide data. The snowball method will be used to extend the sample.
Research Team: Atilla Barutçu, PhD. Student, Ankara University, Women and Gender Studiesi and Naz Hıdır, Research Assistant, Ege University, Gender Studies
Grant received: 47,580 SEK.
Whose Best Interest? No Citizens, But “Guests” Syrian Refugee Children
Aim of the research: The aim of the research is to analyse the plight of Syrian refugee children in Turkey with a particular focus on issues of statelessness and the best interest of the child. In doing so, the research will try to put forth the points of conflict caused by Turkish and Syrian citizenship Law, as well as providing recommendations for CSOs working in the field and governmental bodies considering the risk of Syrian children being stateless.
The research methodology: The research team will adopt a qualitative research methodology. Semi-structured field research will be adopted. In-depth interviews will be conducted by CSO representatives working in the field and governmental bodies.
Research Team: Yeşim Mutlu,PhD. Candidate, Middle East technical University, Sociology Department; Emrah Kırımsoy, PhD. Student, Hacettepe University, Social Work Department
Grant received: 47,580 SEK.