The role of environmental ideologies in environmental education

Dincel D., YILDIZ A.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, cilt.56, sa.5, ss.368-389, 2025 (SSCI, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 56 Sayı: 5
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1080/00958964.2025.2498885
  • Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, IBZ Online, Periodicals Index Online, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, Applied Science & Technology Source, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), EBSCO Education Source, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), Environment Index, ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Greenfile, Pollution Abstracts, Psycinfo
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.368-389
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: anthropocentrism, ecocentrism, environmental education, environmental ideology, non-governmental organization, qualitative research
  • Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study explores the impact of environmental ideologies on the environmental education programs of non-governmental organizations active in Turkey. The study group comprises six different non-governmental organizations, which are divided into two main groups according to their environmental ideologies: reformists and radicals. Data were generated from document analyses, in-depth interviews and direct, participatory observations. The research results demonstrated that the majority of the environmental education programs in Turkey are run by reformist environmental non-governmental organizations that consider the environmental issue from an anthropocentric and apolitical perspective and generally concentrate on behavior modification and awareness-raising by using standard education materials. In contrast, non-governmental organizations within the radical group adopt an ecocentric approach, and consider environmental problems to be the outcome of the growth-focused mainstream economic system. As a reflection of this view in their educational activities, they problematize capitalist globalization and demand structural and policy changes.