Profiling the Urban Social Classes in Turkey: Economic Occupations, Political Orientations, Social Life-Styles, Moral Values Presentation of the Basic Findings of a Public Opinion Survey Supported with grants by: Boğazi aziçi i University Research Fund Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation 1
Project Manager: Dr. Hakan YILMAZ Assoc. Prof. Boğazi aziçi i University Department of Political Science and International Relations, Istanbul, Turkey Field Survey Conducted by: Infakto Research Workshop Field Survey Conducted in:september-october 2007 Technical Advisers: Dr. Emre Erdoğan, Güçlü Atılgan Research Assistants:Begüm Uzun,Taylan Acar, Ömer Ak Short-Term Research Assistants: Ömer Ak, Selen Artan, Gül Çatır, Aslı Okyay, Aydan Piker, Ayça Uygur 2
The Field Survey: General Aspects The field survey was carried out in the urban residential areas of 18 Turkish provinces between 7 September-1 October 2007. Rural areas were not included in this survey. The sample thus represents around 70% of the total population of Turkey today. The sample was randomly selected and consisted of 1809 persons, representing the adult (18+) population of Turkey. All interviews were made face-to-face in the persons own houses. The sample s expected margin of error is ± 2,4 percent. 3
Basic Characteristics of the Sample The sample consisted of 1809 persons. 50% of the persons were men, and 50% were women. The sample was drawn from four age groups, each comprising about 25% of the respondents, representing people between the ages of 18-24, 25-34, 35-44 ve 45+. The average age was 35. 46% of the respondents have had 5 or less years of education; 43% have finished the middle school (8 years) or high school (11 years); and 11% have had an education at the college level or beyond. 41% of the respodents had full-time jobs; 34% were housewifes; 9% were living on retirement pensions; 9% were students; and 7% were unemployed. The median monthly household income was between 750-1000 YTL (425-550 EURO). 4
Distribution of the Respondents to the Regions and Provinces 5
PART A: Expectations Income Investment Consumption Education Political Attitudes Attitudes towards the EU 6
Which of the following groups would you place yourself in, given your income level and living standards? Toplumumuzda yaşayan insanlar, maddi durumları ve hayat seviyeleri bakımından alt sınıf, orta sınıf, üst sınıf gibi gruplara ayrılabilir. Siz, kendinizi bu gruplardan hangisine ait görüyorsunuz? 7
Which of these descriptions best fit with the income level and living standards of your family? 8
How would you judge a person's social class? 9
Actual Income, Desired Income 10
Primary Sources of Income 11
Property Ownership (Real Estate and Household Items) (%) 12
Where would you invest 100,000 YTL (50,000 EURO)? 13
Actual Level of Education 14
Desired Level of Education 15
SELF-POSITIONING IN THE CURRENT POLITICAL CONFLICTS LEFT-RIGHT CIVIL-MILITARY RELIGION-SECULARISM ETHNIC CONFLICT FOR OR AGAINST THE EU 16
Attitudes towards the Left-Right Conflict 17
Attitudes towards the Civil-Military Conflict 18
Attitudes towards the Islam-Secularism Conflict 19
Attitudes towards the Religion- Modernity Conflict 20
Attitudes towards the Ethnic Conflict 21
Attitudes towards the Conflict over Turkey s s Membership in the EU 22
Attitudes towards the Conflict over the Personal Costs and Benefists of the EU-related Reforms 23
Basic Groups On the Issue of Turkey s s Membership in the EU (%) EU OPPONENTS PAROCHIAL EU SUPPORTERS WEAK EU Supporters STRONG EU Supporters Within the whole sample 22 12 32 34 Among those who said they would vote in favor of Turkey s membership in the EU 18 10 31 41 Among those who said they have benefited from globalization 11 3 26 60 Among those who said they have benefited from EU-related reforms 1 3 24 71 Among those who said one can reconcile our national values and the values of the EU 23 3 11 62 Among those who said one can be a good Muslim and at the same time adopt EU s values 25 5 13 56 24
PART B: THREE MAIN SOCIAL CLASSES 25
THREE MAIN SOCIAL CLASSES IN TURKEY TODAY 26
Most Pertinent Characteristics of the Social Classes... Most Pertinent Characteristics of the Social Classes... 27
Most Pertinent Characteristics of the Social Classes... Most Pertinent Characteristics of the Social Classes... 28
Most Pertinent Characteristics of the Social Classes... 29