A single event, different stories
Gul Ozatesler studied power relations and inequality between population groups. She based her research on a particular casus: the forced emigration of gypsies from the Turkish town of Bayramic in 1970. Why did this happen, and how?
A different story
Gypsies in Turkey.
She spoke with inhabitants of the town who had been involved in the events, and found it remarkable that non-gypsies told a completely different story from gypsies. Apparently the way people remember historical events depends largely on their social position, personal interests, power relations and prevailing assumptions.
Categories
| The approach Ozatesler adopted in her research was to focus on the dynamics of power relations, inequalities and hierarchical relations within society. Her conclusion is that changing power relations in a community have an effect on the way ethnic categories function, and that these ethnic categories are used to create and maintain power relations and inequalities.
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Every society has social categories: groups of people who share particular characteristics, such as profession, gender or ethnicity, but who have no other connection with one another. | ||
Critical
The research shows how people use historical categories and stigmas to attack those whom they believe are threatening their interests (particularly their socio-economic interests). In Ozatesler’s view this is a reason why we should be critical about existing power relations and commonly-held assumptions.
Written history
She also believes that the stories of marginalised groups should be part of written history. Without this perspective on history it is impossible to understand research on the dynamics of power relations within a society.
PhD defence
Gul Özateşler
PhD defence: 12 January 2012
Supervisor: Prof. Leo Lucassen and Prof. Ayşe Buğra
Co-supervisor: Prof. Wim Willems
(12 January 2012)
Research area
Global interactions of people, cultures and power through the ages
Studying in Leiden
Bachelor's
History
Master's
Migration and Global Interdependence