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Vehbi Bayhan
from these approaches. Since these principles, as an essential element of trust, are far
away from the civil society, this situation rightly directs the important segment of the
society to “suspect” about associations, foundations. This constitutes the biggest obsta-
cle for our people’s participation to voluntary work and non-governmental organizations.
Only about 12 percent of the society is involved in civic initiatives (Betil, 2013: 16).
In Turkey, young individuals have problems of the participation in political and non-gov-
ernmental organizations. Expect for voting, political participation rate is very low. There-
fore, young people are involved in politics as much as their parents do (Erdoğan, 2001:
26). Obstacles for young people’s political participation in Turkey can be explained by the
model the “Iron Triangle” (Oktar, 2001). The first side of the iron triangle forms the “family
structure”, on the second edge “education system” is located and the third edge consti-
tutes the “current system”. As well as these dimensions are independent of one another,
they support each other.
The family structure in Turkey is not an open structure for participation in itself. Partici-
pation is partly explained as one’s producing his own ideas and willingness to implement
them. In this context, the child is unable to show such participation within the structure
of the Turkish family which usually consists of dominant parents. In fact, the individual
cannot completely express himself until he starts his own family. However, vicious cycle
continues when he starts his own family, as well. Since the family is the only place where
his ideas are respected he doesn’t listen to his own children’s views. In addition, com-
pared to Western countries, the majority of families in Turkey take their children’s financial
responsibility for a longer period. Even if the child contributes to the family income, he
doesn’t have the right to decide how to spend the money he earns. However, the com-
mon belief is that whoever wins the money, the needs of the family will be met through
that money because in the past parents dedicated themselves for their children in the
same way (Oktar, 2001: 31). For the question “Who generally makes the decisions in your
family?” in Bayhan’s (2003) research about the family structure of which sample consists
of the university youth, 39% of the respondents answered all the members of the family
make decisions collectively, 31% answered decisions are made by father, 24% answered
by fathers and mothers and 5% responded as by mother. It is observed that decisions
are made 60% by the parents. Importance of the family also becomes evident with the
question “What is the most valued thing in life?” 60% of the sample responds as “family”.
15% responds success, 10% responds religious beliefs, 3% money, 3% my job and 1%
responds the entertainment.
The second dimension of the iron triangle is the system of education. In contrast to the
excess of the young population, adequate and qualified education facilities are not pro-
vided. An education system built upon rote learning is based on accepting everything
without criticizing and questioning. Due importance isn’t given for philosophy and so-
ciology classes at high schools. In addition, since high school education is not enough,
