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Journals / İmgelem / 2025 / Sayı: 17

The Social Construction of High Inflation: A Comparative Analysis of Perception, Trust, And Consumption Experiences of The Urban Middle Class in Turkey and Russia (2018–2024)

Yüksek Enflasyonun Toplumsal İnşası: Türkiye ve Rusya’da Kentli Orta Sınıfın Algı, Güven ve Tüketim Deneyimlerinin Karşılaştırmalı Analizi (2018–2024)

Yılmaz Ulvi Uzun(BİTLİS EREN ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-6428-4167
Journal
İmgelem
Pages
451–486
Publication Date
2025-12-28
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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

Thematic findings indicate that the contraction in consumption habits is not merely economic in nature but also entails symbolic losses and disruptions in identity continuity.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:This study examines, from a comparative sociological perspective, the multifaceted effects of the high inflation process experienced in Turkey and Russia between 2018 and 2024 on urban middle-class consumers.
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Key Findings & Data:Beyond its conventional macroeconomic framing, the study reveals that inflation operates as a socially constructed phenomenon—shaped through class positions, cultural meaning systems, and affective experiences.
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Conclusion & Impact:Thematic findings indicate that the contraction in consumption habits is not merely economic in nature but also entails symbolic losses and disruptions in identity continuity.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:2018 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Yüksek Enflasyon · Söylem Analizi · Tematik Analiz

Abstract

This study examines, from a comparative sociological perspective, the multifaceted effects of the high inflation process experienced in Turkey and Russia between 2018 and 2024 on urban middle-class consumers. Beyond its conventional macroeconomic framing, the study reveals that inflation operates as a socially constructed phenomenon—shaped through class positions, cultural meaning systems, and affective experiences. Grounded in a qualitative research paradigm, the study employs a comparative framework structured through thematic analysis, critical discourse analysis, and SWOT methodology. Departing from traditional interview-based approaches, the data were gathered using a multi-sourced, discourse-oriented strategy that reflects a growing trend in contemporary sociological inquiry. The dataset comprises media and social media narratives, academic publications, expert commentaries, and institutional reports, forming a representative sample. The coded qualitative data were analyzed through multilayered content analysis in line with established discourse-analytical principles. Thematic findings indicate that the contraction in consumption habits is not merely economic in nature but also entails symbolic losses and disruptions in identity continuity. Discourse analysis highlights a stark divergence between crisis narratives in digital and traditional media, contributing to a fragmentation of public trust. The SWOT analysis reveals that, while urban middle classes in both countries faced similar economic pressures, they developed distinct resistance strategies shaped by their respective historical and cultural contexts. Accordingly, the study frames high inflation as a socio-symbolic formation and a space of contested meaning, offering an interdisciplinary contribution that encourages a rethinking of economic crisis literature through theoretical diversity and qualitative methodological innovation.

Özet

Bu çalışma, 2018–2024 döneminde Türkiye ve Rusya’da yaşanan yüksek enflasyon sürecinin, kentli-orta sınıf tüketiciler üzerindeki sosyolojik etkilerini karşılaştırmalı bir perspektifle incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Ayrıca çalışma, yüksek enflasyonun yalnızca ekonomik bir olgu olarak değil; sınıfsal konum, kültürel anlam üretimi ve duygulanımsal deneyimler yoluyla biçimlenen, çok yönlü bir toplumsal süreç inşası ortaya çıktığını göstermektedir. Çalışma, tematik analiz, eleştirel söylem çözümlemesi ve SWOT analiz temelli karşılaştırmalı yapılandırma çerçevesinde, nitel araştırma paradigması doğrultusunda tasarlanmıştır. Veri seti, geleneksel bireysel görüşmelere dayalı yaklaşımlardan farklı olarak, çağdaş sosyolojik araştırmalarda giderek yaygınlık kazanan çok kaynaklı söylem temelli yöntemle oluşturulmuş; medya ve sosyal medya içerikleri, akademik yayınlar, uzman analizleri ile kurumsal raporlar esas alınarak örneklem ile yapılandırılmıştır. Elde edilen nitel veriler, önceden tanımlanmış tematik kategoriler doğrultusunda kodlanmış ve söylem çözümlemesi ilkeleriyle çok düzlemli içerik analizine tabi tutulmuştur. Sonuç olarak; tematik bulgular, tüketim alışkanlıklarındaki daralmanın yalnızca ekonomik değil, kimliksel ve sembolik kayıplarla iç içe geçtiğini ortaya koyarken; söylem çözümlemesi, kriz anlatılarının dijital ve geleneksel mecralarda radikal biçimde ayrıştığını ve bunun toplumsal güven rejimleri üzerinde dönüştürücü etkiler yarattığını göstermektedir. SWOT analizine göre ise, benzer ekonomik baskılara maruz kalan kentli orta sınıfların, farklı tarihsel ve kültürel bağlamlarda özgül direnç stratejileri geliştirdiği sonucuna ulaşmıştır. Bu bağlamda çalışma, enflasyonu kültürel anlam üretimi, sembolik temsil ve toplumsal inşa süreçleri üzerinden ele alarak, ekonomik kriz olgularına ilişkin mevcut literatürü kuramsal çeşitlilik ve nitel yöntemsel yenilik açısından yeniden düşünmeye davet eden disiplinler arası bir katkı sunmaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Uzun, Y. U. (2025). The Social Construction of High Inflation: A Comparative Analysis of Perception, Trust, And Consumption Experiences of The Urban Middle Class in Turkey and Russia (2018–2024). İmgelem, Sayı: 17, 451–486. https://doi.org/10.53791/imgelem.1714135

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