SOCIO-ANTHROPOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE CHANGE IN ALEWI OCAKS FROM PAST TO PRESENT

This article deals with Dede institution, which functions as Ocaks, one of the basic institutions of Alewism, and the socio-anthropological change of such an institution along with urbanization. The traditional Dede instution has lost its impact during the time and filling such a gape in society necessitates a new instutions which has begun to carry out the important tasks of this instutuion especially in urban centers. Both our field researches and other studies on this topic reflect that the change almost affects every part of lives among Alewis, in essence. Today Alewism in Turkey and the urban centers around Europe exists in the places of Cemevi and Cultural Centers that are widely run by foundations. Now it is apparent that the old intuitions including Ocaks have been transformed into other hands, whereas they had an ultimate power in the past. The socio-economical transformation caused by urbanization has also caused significant effects in the lives of Alewis. It is necessary to compare the status of Dede institution in the past and the present in details in order to understand this situation better. There have been great differences with the new qualifications and functions of practices as new Dede typologies have emerged in the new social order. Several of traditional qualifications and functions of Dede institution have either disappeared with time or have continued with various changes along with the new conditions and new needs of the society. The changes today have still been continuing.