The Direction of Citizenship Education in Turkey (From The Period of II. Constitutionalism to the Present 2022)

The aim of this study, which is in the context of Turkish modernization, is to determine the direction of citizenship education by examining the relationship between education and political power in Turkey from the 2nd Constitutional Monarchy up to present. In accordance with this purpose, relational content analysis design, one of the qualitative methods, has been used in the study. The sample consists of textbooks and curricula. Data were collected through documents and analysed with descriptive analysis technique. According to the findings obtained in the study, with the citizenship education given in the Second Constitutional Era, it was aimed that the students know the characteristics of the constitutional government. During the single-party period (1923-1945), the development of social consciousness in individuals was ensured in order to protect the republican regime. With the transition to multi-party political life (1945-1960), the concept of democracy began to enter the textbooks while the goals of nationalization were maintained. In the period from the 1960 military coup to the 1980 coup, there were expressions that welcomed the coup in addition to the glorification of democratic life. After the 1982 Constitution, the concept of religion was added to the citizenship identity in the textbooks. In 2000's years, an understanding that adopts active citizenship along with security concerns is dominant in citizenship education. Accordingly, it has been seen that citizenship education has been affected in a context in which the political changes and transformations in Turkey have shaped the concept of citizenship in a traditional or modern character.