Decoding the neighborhoods called ’varoş’

Contrary to popular belief, the more than 8.1 million residents of a new urban phenomenon in Turkey called "varoş" are not united in support of a single political party.

The daily Radikal has published research results from Konda, a well-known research company, that indicate nationwide political choices are almost identically reflected in varoş neighborhoods. A varoş is an urban residential area where new migrants first settle, far from economic and cultural city centers.

Therefore, the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, the Republican People’s Party, or CHP, and the Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, are likely to receive the same percentage of votes from people who live in varoş areas as they receive nationwide.

Involvement in political activities, such as party meetings or rallies, is as low in varoş areas as it is in villages. The research has shown 85 percent of people in those areas have never been a member of a political party and 92 percent have never been a member of any civil society organization.

There was a similar finding in relation to those who receive welfare. The belief that people who receive social welfare all vote for the same party is also a myth.

Those who receive aid show no preference for a single political party. It was also revealed that those who receive aid do not receive support only from political parties and civil society organizations, but also from other sources such as neighbors and relatives. Therefore, a tendency to associate welfare with a particular political preference is controversial.

Konda’s research showed people who are least interested in daily politics and react negatively toward it live in varoş areas. People in those areas who are under the age of 45 display a more negative attitude toward democracy than the rest of the country.

Members of varoş areas have attracted attention for their support of military coups and for closing down political parties. They do, however, support the death penalty less than the national average and are more encouraging of the government’s efforts to support ethnic minorities and develop diverse cultures. They are also more encouraging than national and urban averages of the government’s support for different religions and beliefs.

People in varoş areas are as clear about their opinions as the rest of Turkey and want the state to be secular.

On matters of mandatory religious classes at schools and religion’s role in moral training, however, their stance is slightly more religious.

Another research finding concerned activities varoş residents choose for their children’s summer holidays. For girls, language and Koran courses were a popular choice, but demand for Koran courses was below the national average.

Language courses and sports camps were a favorite choice for boys, at a similar level to residents of any other type of neighborhood.