Journals / Antropoloji / 2026 / Sayı: 52

The concept of indigenousness and the discourse of localism

Yerlilik düşüncesi ve yerellik söylemi

Mehmet Fuat Levendoğlu(VAN YÜZÜNCÜ YIL ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-3401-7532
Pages
35–51
Publication Date
2026-06-30
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

While these designations have become social problems in societies with diverse ethnic structures, they are also examined in the context of fields such as migration, urbanization, and acculturation.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:We are familiar with the words “indigenous” and “local” in daily life.
📊
Key Findings & Data:The concepts of indigenous/local or indigenousness/locality also represent the belonging of individuals, societies, cultures, and objects to geographical regions and places.
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Conclusion & Impact:While these designations have become social problems in societies with diverse ethnic structures, they are also examined in the context of fields such as migration, urbanization, and acculturation.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Yerlilik · yerellik · aidiyet

Abstract

We are familiar with the words “indigenous” and “local” in daily life. The concepts of indigenous/local or indigenousness/locality also represent the belonging of individuals, societies, cultures, and objects to geographical regions and places. When the ideas of indigenousness and locality are evaluated in the context of belonging, entities’ belonging or non-belonging to a defined geographical region is determined by temporal and historical criteria. In other words, an identification is made by examining historical and cultural ties within the framework of the relationship of belonging between entities and the geographical region. Otherwise, belonging to the geographical region is rejected in light of the criteria. According to evaluations and beliefs, people who possess the social and cultural characteristics of a particular geographical region and are identified as indigenous or local are also considered the inhabitants of that region. Their long-standing settlement in the region and their continued existence there for generations establish criteria for belonging. Conversely, people who are not considered to represent the social and cultural characteristics of the same geographical region are labeled as “the other.” These “others” are often indigenous peoples or residents of another region. These designations, which have persisted across different cultures and over time, have recently become the subject of scientific studies. While these designations have become social problems in societies with diverse ethnic structures, they are also examined in the context of fields such as migration, urbanization, and acculturation.

Özet

Günlük hayatta yerli ve yerel kelimelerine aşinayız. Yerli/yerel veya yerlilik/yerellik kavramları, aynı zamanda bireylerin, toplumların, kültürlerin ve nesnelerin de coğrafi bölgelere-mekânlara aidiyetini temsil etmektedir. Yerlilik ve yerellik kavramları aidiyet bağlamında değerlendirdiğinde, varlıkların tanımlanmış bir coğrafi bölgeye ait olma veya olmama durumları, zamansal/tarihsel kriter temelinde yorumlanır. Yani varlıklar ve coğrafi bölge arasında aidiyet ilişkisi kapsamında tarihsel ve kültürel bağlara bakılarak, bir nevi kimliklendirme yapılır. Aksi durumda, malum kıstaslar ışığında coğrafi bölgeye aidiyet reddedilir. Halk arasındaki değerlendirmelere ve inanışa göre; belli bir coğrafi bölgenin sosyal ve kültürel özelliklerini taşıyan, yerli veya yerel sıfatı ile nitelenen/kimliklendirilen insanlar, aynı zamanda o coğrafi bölgenin ev sahibi konumundadırlar. Çünkü öteden beri bölgede-mekânda yerleşik olmaları ve kuşaklar boyunca o bölgede yaşamlarını sürdürmeleri, aynı zamanda aidiyet kıstaslarını da ortaya koymaktadır. Dolayısıyla aynı coğrafi bölgenin sosyal ve kültürel özelliklerini temsil etmediği düşünülen insanlar ise öteki kavramı ile nitelenirler. Keza ötekiler de başka bir coğrafi bölgenin yerlileri veya yerel halklarıdır. Zaman içinde ve farklı kültürlerde varlığını devam ettirmekte olan bu nitelemeler, son zamanlarda bilimsel çalışmalara da konu olmuştur. Her ne kadar farklı etnik yapılara sahip toplumlarda bu nitelemelerin birer toplumsal sorun haline gelmesinin yanında yine de bu kavramlar, göç, kentleşme, kültürleşme gibi çalışma alanları bakımlarından da incelenmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Levendoğlu, M. F., Şeker, G. (2026). The concept of indigenousness and the discourse of localism. Antropoloji, Sayı: 52, 35–51. https://doi.org/10.33613/antropolojidergisi.1859546

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