Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
ISTANBUL JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES-SOSYOLOJI KONFERANSLARI, sa.52, ss.131-156, 2015 (ESCI, TRDizin)
Sociology education in Turkey, started 100 years ago in 1914 at Istanbul University during the Ottoman Empire era led by lessons given by Ziya Gokalp, a young Ottoman intellectual. As a matter of fact Durkheim, the founder of sociology was trying to find solutions for the problems of industrial societies by developing concepts such as "solidarity" to prevent "anomie". At that time Ottoman Empire was neither an industrial nor modem society but Ziya Gokalp assessed Durkheim' s views as appropriated to save the empire from collapsing. Because Durkheim's sociology were holistic rather than particularistic. In other words the basis of his theory was "communitarian" rather than "individualistic" and applicable to build solidarity instead of conflict. All these background information show that sociology starting from its early foundation days has identity problems which are still continuing. Thus no body hardly knows what sociology is and what sociologists do in Turkey. this paper is limited to examine problems and status of sociology in Turkey based on the views of sociology students and graduates as well as their perants. In this study empirical phenomenological tradition is applied by carrying out deep interviews with 25 students and 20 graduates along with 25 parents. Findings revealed that the status of sociology in Turkey is below the expected level and both the status of sociology and its education at universities are interactively affect each other negatively. The risk for unemployment of sociologists along with identity problems require more attention to see sociology as a profession as well as a scientific discipline limited only in academic studies.