Post on 18-Aug-2020
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Turkey
Figures, facts and a cultural pattern approach
Serena Junker, Sindy Würffel, Bayram Gökbulut
ICVET: 30.12.2015 – 31.12.2017
PROJECT NUMBER: 2015-1-DE02-KA202-002520
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Participating countries
Germany: WEQUA GmbH (Co-ordinator), Verein der Freunde und Förderer des
Oberstufenzentrums Lausitz e.V., IHK-Projektgesellschaft Frankfurt/Oder
Greece: General Lyceum Lavrio
Portuga:l Escuela Profissional, Aveiro
Romania: Colegiul Technik Energetic, Cluj Napoca
Italy: Formaorienta, Marsico Nuovo/Potenza
Turkey: Iskilip Mesleki ve Teknik Anadolu Lisesi (IMTAL), Iskilip/Çorum
Austria: BFI Oberösterreich, Linz
Czech Republic Soukromá podřipská střední odborná škola a střední odborné učiliště o.p.s.
(SPSOS), Roudnice
Published by: ICVET http://icvet.epa.edu.pt/
Open license: This document is for free use under the Creative Commons: Attribution-Non-
Commercial 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. Logos are excluded from free licensing.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects
the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may
be made of the information contained therein.
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TURKEY
Capital:
Ankara
Geographical size:
779,452 sq km
Population:
79,5 Mio
Gross domestic product (GDP):
14.383,4 Mio €
Official EU language(s):
Turkish
Political system:
Republican parliamentary democracy
Non-EU member country
Currency:
Turkish lira
Schengen area member?:
No, Turkey is not a member of the Schengen Area.
Cultural Profile
Culture Name: Turkish, Türkiye
Ethnic Make-up: Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20% (estimated)
Major languages Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic
Socio-economic Identity: South Europe, Mediterranean
Religions: Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)
Read more:
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1. CULTURAL PROFILE
1.1 THE CULTURAL DIMENSION THEORY OF HOFSTEDE
Culture
� Culture is composed by visible and invisible elements – Hofstedes
cultural onion
Changing lives. Opening minds
In the past the term culture and its’
meaning were explored from different
points of view. A well-known, widely
taught approach origins from Geert
Hofstede, a Dutch social psychologist. In
the 1970 s little research about cultural
differences had been done. At the same
time there was a strong need to
understand and cope with those
differences due to the worldwide
expansion of companies and
organizations. In this time Hofstede
conducted large scale studies on IBM
employees and subsidies to understand
differences on “work related values”
depending on the national context. From
his observations he developed his concept
of 4, later 6, different cultural dimensions
representing “preferences for one state of
affairs over another that distinguish
countries (rather than individuals) from
each other”. In this sense he defines
“national culture as the collective
programming of the human mind that
distinguishes one group or category of
people from another”. According to his
theory national culture is represented in
values, rituals, heroes and symbols of a
nation while values are deemed to be the
deepest level, thus changing only slowly.
Cultural differences in organizations are
visible as practices. See further down
below to check, how Hofstede’s 6 cultural
dimensions can be characterized.
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According to Hofstede each nation scores
with a certain number on a scale from 1 to
120 (or recalculate on Hofstede’s website
from 1 to 100). Hofstede puts a strong
emphasize on the fact that cultural
differences only become visible when
comparing different national cultures
(“culture can be only used meaningfully by
comparison”). His systematic framework
for assessing and differentiating national
cultures kept being tested and elaborated
until nowadays. Although sometimes
being perceived critically and old-
fashioned Hofstede`s cultural dimensions
can be a useful instrument in the VET
framework to understand cultural
differences. In practice when applying it to
work related contexts they can be used to
explain relations among colleagues,
hierarchies in organizations, how rules are
set and followed or how organizations are
led strategically. Especially for young
people entering the world of work in
another country those insights can be of
great value to understand and adapt to
“new” working habits.
The information you will find in the
following paragraphs are taken of
publications of Geert Hofstede1. You will
find all relevant sources at the end.
1 https://geert-hofstede.com/
Now go and discover the specifics of your
own country and compare to your
country of destination:
Now that you know where you stand, the
following tips2 might be useful once you
immerse in the culture of your
destination country:
2 Quoted from:
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/new
LDR_66.htm
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PDI = Power distance
index: to what extend do
people accept that power
is distributed unequally
among them.
IDV = Individualism vs.
collectivism: to what
extend social bonds are
characterized by the
focus on collectives
(“we”) or individuals (“I”)
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MAS = Masculinity vs. femininity:
represents the preferences in
society for “toughness”
(achievement, heroism etc.) or
“tenderness” (caring,
cooperation etc.)
UAI = Uncertainty avoidance
index: to what extend are
people able to cope with
uncertainty and ambiguity
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LTO = Long term
orientation versus short
term orientation: to what
extend societies give
priority to preserving what
has been established in
the past (traditions,
norms) or facing the
challenges of the future
and prepare for those
IND = Indulgence vs.
restraint: to what
extend a society
allows for or restricts
opportunities for
people to enjoy life.
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1.2 Turkey in the Hofstede world
Turkey scores high on the dimension
Power Distance (score of 66) which means
that the following characterises the
Turkish style: Dependent, hierarchical,
superiors often inaccessible and the ideal
boss is a father figure. Power is centralized
and managers rely on their bosses and on
rules. Employees expect to be told what to
do. Control is expected and attitude
towards managers is formal.
Communication is indirect and the
information flow is selective. The same
structure can be observed in the family
unit, where the father is a kind of
patriarch to whom others submit.
Turkey, with a score of 37 is a collectivistic
society. This means that the “We” is
important, people belong to in-groups
(families, clans or organisations) who look
after each other in exchange for loyalty.
Communication is indirect and the
harmony of the group has to be
maintained, open conflicts are avoided.
The relationship has a moral base and this
always has priority over task fulfilment.
Time must be invested initially to establish
a relationship of trust. Nepotism may be
found more often. Feedback is always
indirect, also in the business environment.
Turkey scores 85 on the dimension
Uncertainty Avoidance and thus there is a
huge need for laws and rules. In order to
minimize anxiety, people make use of a lot
of rituals. For foreigners they might seem
religious, with the many references to
“Allah”, but often they are just traditional
social patterns, used in specific situations
to ease tension.
0
20
40
60
80
100Power Distance
Individualism
Masculinity
Uncertainty Avoidance
Long Term Orientation
Indulgence
TUR
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1.3 Understand Turkey from examples
Example 1 - PDI
“The father as head of the household is
expected to decide what the others will
do. Because of the patriarchal structure,
father figure control and the others are
submissive and dependent in general.
Today, since there are stronger, educated,
independent mothers, daughters and sons
and more divorced parents, the situation
is changing day by day. But, in the same
manner, in education and business world,
there are no leaders but bosses who see
themselves superior to the others.”
Example 2 – UAI
Citing a local “people are less risk tolerant;
they avoid suspicious situations and
conflict. As a nation, we need strict laws
and rules to provide an order in the
society. We have time regulations to go
out and arrive home, we have rules in
traffic, we have rules to dress at school or
at work, we have rules to express or write
our opinions, if we want to solve a
problem, there must be the answer
somewhere, if we want to believe a
theory, it must be proved, if we see
somebody with different outlook, there
must be something wrong with him/her.”3
3 Source: Both examples are taken from:
“Describing Turkey Using Hofstede’s
Cultural Dimensions”, by Ezgi Burumoğlu, Gazi
University,
http://www.academia.edu/10131794/Describing_
Turkey_Using_Hofstede_s_Cultural_Dimensions
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Sources:
1) https://geert-hofstede.com/
2) Geert Hofstede, Culture’s Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions,
and Organizations Across Nations. Second Edition, Thousand Oaks CA: Sage
Publications, 2001
3) Geert Hofstede, Gert Jan Hofstede, Michael Minkov, Cultures and Organizations:
Software of the Mind. Revised and Expanded 3rd Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill
USA, 2010)
4) https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_66.htm
5) Map of Turkey: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tu-map.png?uselang=de
6) Describing Turkey Using Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions, by Ezgi Burumoğlu, Gazi
University,
http://www.academia.edu/10131794/Describing_Turkey_Using_Hofstede_s_Cultural
_Dimensions
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2. Turkey Society & Culture
Cultural Orientation
Photo from https://pixabay.com/el/
Republic of Turkey (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti ), is a
Eurasian country that stretches across the Anatolian
peninsula in western Asia and Thrace (Rumelia) in the
Balkan region of south-eastern Europe. The surface
area of Turkey including the lakes is 814.578 km2
/315.000 Sq.miles. Its geographical location, Anatolia,
has always been important throughout history and is
the birth place of many great civilizations. Turkey is
not only a passageway from which the ancient Asian Turkish Culture is transmitted to the
Europe, but also counted as a window of Western Culture opening to meet the Eastern
Culture. Turkey has 8200 km sea shores. Because of these long coastal borders and being a
bridge between the continents of Asia and Europe, Turkey had been the centre of the major
commerce and immigration roads. Ankara has been the capital of Turkey since 1924.
The country may be divided into five regions. The Black Sea region has a moderate
climate and higher than average rainfall. It is dominated by the Pontic mountain range. The
west is noted for agriculture, including grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and tobacco. Many
western Black Sea men sought work outside the region in the navy and merchant marine or
in major cities, later returning home to retire. While the men worked away, the women kept
up the home, farmed the land, and cared for the livestock.
In the central Anatolian plateau region villagers engage in animal husbandry and cultivate
wheat, barley, and sugar beets, while in the Eastern Anatolia people engage with
transhumant nomadism with herds of sheep, cattle, and goats. A tribal social organization
survived longer in this area among the Turkish and Kurdish peoples.
The Mediterranean coastal region is lined by the Taurus Mountains. It has a
Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, humid winters. The eastern part is
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known for extensive cotton production by wealthy landowners, while the western region is
noted for citrus and banana groves. However, tourism is now a major industry. On the
Aegean coast many hotels, rooms and other touristic facilities are expecting hundreds of
tourists especially in the summer.
The Marmara–Istanbul region, a crossroads of Europe and Asia, is the most densely
settled, commercial, industrial, and touristic region. Istanbul, the largest and most
cosmopolitan city, leads the country in commerce, shipping, fashion, literature, arts, and
entertainment. Over the decades, it has attracted a steady stream of migrants from all parts
of the country.
Turkish Culture is unique in the world because it has influenced and has been
influenced in return by cultures and civilizations from China to Vienna and from Russian
steps to North Africa for hundreds of years. Turkish culture reflects this unparalleled cultural
richness and diversity and remains mostly shaped by its deep roots in the Middle East,
Anatolia and the Balkans, the cradle of many civilizations for at least twelve thousand years.
Architecture and the use of space have been influenced by economic factors, political
ideology, environment, tradition, and foreign ideas. Ottoman architecture with its Byzantine
and Islamic elements represented a clear cultural expression of the imperial past. Leaders of
the new republic wanted a different architecture that would proclaim their new vision of a
Western, secular nation-state. In the 1960s, the Bauhaus school with its emphasis on mass
production influenced the construction of middle-class urban housing in Ankara and some
other cities. Modern skyscrapers and high-rise government, commercial, and apartment
buildings have transformed most major cities. Since the 1950s, modern urban centers have
been ringed by expanding squatter settlements (gecekondus) of substandard housing
constructed quickly by peasants from rural areas.
In the winter, many Turks eat a breakfast of bread with hot soup. In the warmer
seasons, they commonly eat bread and jam, hard- or soft-boiled eggs, a white cheese made
from sheep's milk, salty olives, and warm milk or hot tea with milk. A typical noon meal
consists of vegetable and meat stew with a side dish of rice or bulgar pilaf and salad, with
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fruit for desert. Borek or dolma may substitute for the stew. Sweet deserts, such as baklava,
are served on special occasions. The evening meal is usually lighter, consisting of leftovers
from noon or a kebab with salad. Ordinarily, only water is drunk with the noon and evening
meals. Muslims are not allowed to eat pork, which consists one of the greatest taboos in
Turkey along with alcoholic beverages. Nevertheless, many Turks consume beer, wine and
liquors.
As far as music is concerned, Turkish music has been influenced by Central Asian folk
music, Arabic music, Greek music, Ottoman music, Persian music and Balkan music.
Traditional instruments in Turkish classical music today include tanbur long-necked plucked
lute, ney end-blown flute, kemençe bowed fiddle, oud plucked short-necked unfretted
lute, kanun plucked zither, violin, and in Mevlevi music, kudüm drum and a harp.
Turks have many folk and national heroes, but when you visit Turkey, you want to
know more about one historical figure, whose face or portraits can be seen almost
everywhere: Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938), Turkey's national hero, who was a military
commander of genius and a statesman with few equals. What did he do? He took a
defeated, demoralized, poverty-stricken medieval theocratic monarchy and reshaped it into
a vibrant, progressive, democratic secular republic.
A long succession of political entities existed in Asia Minor over the centuries.
Turkmen tribes invaded Anatolia in the 11th century CE, founding the Seljuq empire; during
the 14th century the Ottoman Empire began a long expansion, reaching its peak during the
17th century. The modern Turkish republic, founded in 1923 after the collapse of the
Ottoman Empire, is a nationalist, secular, parliamentary democracy.
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Economic orientation
Photo from https://pixabay.com/el/
Turkey’s population of 62.8 million is young
and growing, it has the largest landmass in Western
Europe, and its economy is the 16th largest in the
world. The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has
identified Turkey as one of the ten most promising
emerging economies, and a recent World Bank study
also declared Turkey one of the ten countries most
likely to enter the top tier of the world economy. Today's Turkey, modern and open to the
world, follows a liberal policy in economy just as in its political structure.
The trend towards liberalization goes back to the 1950s, but related action became
more prominent in the early 1980s when many radical changes and structural reforms have
been made in the field. The main components of this economic reform were reducing
government intervention; implementing a flexible exchange rate policy; liberalizing import
regulations; increasing exports; encouraging foreign capital investment; establishing free
trade zones; deregulating financial markets; privatizing State Economic Enterprises, and
decentralizing government activities. Because of economic reforms based on free market
principles and an international orientation, the Turkish economy has experienced an average
growth rate of almost 5 percent over the past 20 years.
Until about 1950 the state played the leading role in industrialization, providing most
of the capital for structural improvement in railways, ports, and shipping facilities and for the
establishment of such basic industries as mining, metallurgy, and chemicals; it also invested
in manufacturing, notably in the food-processing, textile, and building-material sectors.
Emerging industries were protected by tariff barriers, and foreign investment was
discouraged; the economy remained self-contained and somewhat isolated, with foreign
trade playing only a minor role.
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The EU – Turkey Customs Union in 1995 led to an extensive liberalization of tariff
rates, and forms one of the most important pillars of Turkey's foreign trade policy. Turkey's
exports were $143.5 billion in 2011 and reached $163 billion in 2012 (main export partners
in 2012: Germany 8.6%, Iraq 7.1%, Iran 6.5%, UK 5.7%, UAE 5.4%). However, larger imports
which amounted to $229 billion in 2012 threatened the balance of trade (main import
partners in 2012: Russia 11.3%, Germany 9%, China 9%, US 6%, Italy 5.6%).
Turkey has a sizeable automotive industry, which produced over 1.3 million motor
vehicles in 2015, ranking as the 14th largest producer in the world. Turkish shipbuilding
exports were worth US$1.2 billion in 2011. The major export markets are Malta, Marshall
Islands, Panama and the United Kingdom.
Turkish brands like Beko and Vestel are among the largest producers of consumer
electronics and home appliances in Europe and invest a substantial amount of funds for
research and development in new technologies related to these fields.
Other key sectors of the Turkish economy are banking, construction, home
appliances, electronics, textiles, oil refining, petrochemical products, food, mining, iron and
steel, and machine industry.
When businessmen meet for the first time, they should greet their potential business
partner with a firm handshake. When greeting women, they should wait for them to offer
their hand first. The eldest persons should be greeted first, as Turks hold great respect for
the elderly. Business is a serious matter and should be treated as such. Initial meetings are
formal so business partners should avoid coming across as too casual and friendly, even if
they have developed a relationship on a personal basis already. If a business card is offered
to them, this could be a sign that the Turks are interested in developing the business
relationship further, so they should ensure that they offer their card in exchange and take
the time to read their card before putting it away. Business meetings are booked in advance
and there is an expectation of punctuality. It can take a long time for any decisions to be
reached in business so business partners should be prepared for several meetings to take
place before they are able to meet with the people in positions of power, who are the
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decision makers. Turkish people do not appreciate being rushed or being given “the hard
sell”. They don’t like pressure or deadlines, therefore someone must be patient.
As a foreign worker, it will be hard to embark on some careers in Turkey due to
Turkish government restrictions on recruitment - the legal, medical and mining fields are all
off-limits to international applicants. If a foreigner is hoping to teach English as a foreign
language or enter the tourism industry however, he is in luck - English-speaking foreign
workers are particularly popular in these sectors.
Social orientation
Photo from https://pixabay.com/el/
Turkish people are sociable, well-
mannered and hospitable. The most essential
social unit in Turkish culture is the family. A Turk’s
personal life is dependent on and revolves
around family, friends and other community
groups. These, in turn, command one’s opinions
and decisions. Family loyalty is a vital aspect of
Turkish society and one that has a major impact on Turkish business practices. Many
businesses in Turkey are still family-owned and run and the concept of family connections
and influence is apparent during business exchanges in Turkey. School attendance is
compulsory to age 14. The first day of class constitutes an important rite of passage. The
children are dressed in black smocks with white collars and taken to school with pomp and
ceremony. Most families that can afford it, keep their children in school beyond age 14.
Most would like to see their children, especially their sons, complete university, but this is
rarely possible for poor families.
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The Turkish curriculum has been recently reformed. The new approach now
rely on ‘values education’, e.g. the notions of ‘national unity & solidarity’ as well as
‘national, moral and universal values’. The new curriculum refers to values education
as having a cultural impact, claiming that it is significant in turning these values into
new norms and daily behaviors for society in the future.
Formal education in Turkey includes pre-primary education, primary education,
secondary education and higher education. Pre-primary education involves the education of
children in the age group of 3 to 5 who have not reached the age of compulsory primary
education, on an optional basis. Primary education involves the education and training of
children in the age group of 6 to 13. It includes both elementary and middle schools each of
which lasts four years. Primary education is compulsory for all citizens and free at the public
schools. Towards the end of the primary school, pupils are given information about both
general and vocational/technical high schools and the kinds of employment they prepare
for. Secondary education comprises of high schools of a general or vocational and/or
technical character giving four-year courses following primary education. Secondary
education is also compulsory since 2013 and free at the public schools. Higher Education in
Turkey includes all post-secondary institutions, which offers at least two years of formal
education. After graduating from high school, students can enroll in higher education which
is compatible with the Bologna three-cycle system.
Turkish young people are active and enjoy leisure activities, such as cinema,
attending concerts or going to the theatre, listening to music, reading, or playing games
(especially on Computer). Going out with friends or visiting family members is also
something very common in Turkey. Soccer is an extremely popular activity: Turks enjoy
watching soccer as well as playing in a team.
In Turkey, as in other countries going through a process of transformation, modernity
does not necessarily mean a shift away from spirituality and religion. Recent poll has
revealed that a huge majority of the Turkish interviewees regard family solidarity as the
most important value when it comes to bringing up children. While a relatively big
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percentage of the participants highlighted ‘religious beliefs’ as the second most important
value this was followed by obedience and respect for other cultures. Some highlighted
independence whereas only a few stated curiosity. Therefore, there is a rather clear
emphasis on ‘conservative’ values. The emphasis on ‘the family’ or the ‘religious community’
as key values should be seen against the background of a conscious shift in the social and
cultural policies of the Turkish state.
The expectations on life in Turkey comply with the conservatism of the Turkish
society. Families expect their children -especially in the urban regions- to study, get married
and have families of their own. Moreover, they are expected to become successful in their
profession and earn a good deal of money. The western capitalism has affected the Turkish
society more than ever in the last decades. As a result, many people who live in big cities,
like Istanbul or on the coast form their lives according to the western model: they live in big
buildings with blocks of flats, they own one or two cars, they go out to bars, clubs etc. and
they travel during vacation. However, one cannot claim that there is only one way to live and
organize your life in Turkey. It totally depends on which part of the country you were born.
Eveyday life
Photo from https://pixabay.com/el/
During the week people in Turkey attend their
workplace where they have to stay approximately 8 hours
per day. The rest of the day is spent with their families. For
men it is a custom to go to coffee houses where they have
tea or coffee, meet with other men, or smoke nargile.
Social life consists of two different places: Inside and
outside the home. Women leave the outside world to
the men, generally remaining in the home. Women
get married at an earlier age than men and settle into their role of housewife and home
maker. As the education level of women increases, the fertility rate decreases. Nearly every
female university graduate has only one child. 9 million of the 21 million working population
of Turkey are women. In the rural areas, the rate of working women, especially in
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agriculture, is very high. However, women work in this sector as an extension of their
housework and not to make a living. In urban areas, women hold important posts in both
public and private sectors, the arts and sciences. Today, Turkish women are bank managers,
doctors, lawyers, judges, journalists, pilots, diplomats, police officers, army officers or prime
ministers. Nearly two thirds of health personnel including doctors and pharmacists, one
quarter of all lawyers and one third of banking personnel are women.
At the weekends, Turks spend their free time with their families. They have picnics in the
parks-if the weather is good-, play with their children, visit friends or family. They also go to the
cinema or the theatre and many of them choose to spend their time in their gardens. Gardening is
domestic activity and the products of a garden are not meant to be sold at the market.
Religious festivals play a significant role in Turks’ lives. Two of the most important festivals
are Ramadan and the Feast of Sacrifice. The main characteristics of Ramadan and the Feast of
the Sacrifice are that people, neighbours, relatives and friends pay visits and go to see each
other. Young people kiss their parents’ hands and receive best wishes and blessings from
them. It is a tradition to give money or little gifts to those children who kiss one’s hands.
Candies are served to visitors during Ramadan. That is why Ramadan is also called the “Sugar
Festival”. During the Feast of the Sacrifice, not only candies but also the meat of sacrificial
animal are served to guests.
The Ramadan festival comes after one month of fasting. There are also many
traditions regarding the fasting month, which is known as Ramadan Month. In former times
in particular, and in summer when nights are shorter, people who fasted did not sleep after
dinner but waited until sahur (a meal taken just before dawn during Ramadan). In this
period, people organized many different forms of entertainments. Karagöz and ortaoyun
were examples of Ramadan shows. In rural areas, people gathered in houses and in coffee
houses where wandering minstrels used to play instruments and sing. Added to these
wandering minstrel songs, folk stories that could last up to a few days were recounted.
Another feature symbolizing the Turkish way of life is the Turkish Baths ("Hamam").
They have a very important place in Turkish daily and historical life as a result of the
emphasis placed upon cleanliness by Islam. Since Medieval times public bath houses have
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been built everywhere and they retain an architectural and historical importance. The
Turkish way of bathing in a "hamam" is very healthy and refreshing.
During their holidays, many Turks visit the coastal region where they have the
opportunity to swim in the sea and enjoy a relaxing time at a hotel. Other choose to travel
abroad or to Greece-and especially the islands of Mytilene, Samos, Chios.
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3. Read more about Turkish Culture, History and Work and Business Life
3.1 Turkish Political System, Culture and History
Turkish political country profile by the BBC (regularly updated):
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17988453
Turkey in the EU
https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/countries/member-countries/Turkey_en
A comprehensive and deep cultural analysis and description of Turkey is offered here:
http://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/Turkey.html
3.2 Guide to Turkish– Etiquette, Customs, Culture & Business
Etiquette and Business Culture in Turkey
• http://businessculture.org/southern-europe/business-culture-in-turkey/business-
etiquette-in-turkey/
• http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/guides/guide-turkey-etiquette-
customs-culture-business/
• https://www.commisceo-global.com/country-guides/turkey-guide
• http://turkishtravelblog.com/about-turkey/
• http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN,98556/religious-festivals.html
3.3 Going for work and vocational training to Turkey–a comprehensive overview by the
Germen Labour Agency.
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/working-abroad/work-in-turkey
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Sources:
1) https://geert-hofstede.com/
2) Geert Hofstede, Culture’s Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions,
and Organizations Across Nations. Second Edition, Thousand Oaks CA: Sage
Publications, 2001
3) Geert Hofstede, Gert Jan Hofstede, Michael Minkov, Cultures and Organizations:
Software of the Mind. Revised and Expanded 3rd Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill
USA, 2010)
4) https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_66.htm
5) Map of Turkey: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ro-
map.png?uselang=de#file
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Annex: Turkish Society & Culture – Practical hints around
Turkish homes, etiquette and negotiation
Islam
Islam is the religion of the majority of Turks although the state is fiercely secular. Islam
emanated from what is today Saudi Arabia. The Prophet Muhammad is seen as the last of
God's emissaries (following in the footsteps of Jesus, Moses, Abraham, etc) to bring
revelation to mankind. He was distinguished with bringing a message for the whole of
mankind, rather than just to a certain peoples. As Moses brought the Torah and Jesus the
Bible, Muhammad brought the last book, the Quran. The Quran and the actions of the
Prophet (the Sunnah) are used as the basis for all guidance in the religion.
Among certain obligations for Muslims are to pray five times a day - at dawn, noon,
afternoon, sunset, and evening. The exact time is listed in the local newspaper each day.
Friday is the Muslim holy day although this is not practised in Turkey. However, most males
will attend the congregational afternoon prayer. During the holy month of Ramazan all
Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk. Fasting includes no eating, drinking, cigarette
smoking, or gum chewing
Etiquette & Customs in Turkey
Meeting and Greeting Etiquette
• When meeting shake hands firmly. When departing it is not always customary to
shake hands although it is practised occasionally.
• Friends and relations would greet each other with either one or two kisses on the
cheek. Elders are always respected by kissing their right hand then placing the
forehead onto the hand.
• When entering a room, if you are not automatically met by someone greet the most
elderly or most senior first. At social occasions greet the person closest to you then
work your way around the room or table anti-clockwise.
• Greet people with either the Islamic greeting of 'Asalamu alaykum' (peace be upon
you) or 'Nasilsiniz' (How are you? pronounced na-sul-su-nuz). Other useful phrases
are
• 'Gunaydin' (Good Morning, pronounced goon-ay-dun), 'iyi gunler' (Good Day,
pronounced ee-yee gun-ler) or 'Memnun Oldum' (pleased to meet you).
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Gift Giving Etiquette
• Gift giving has no real place in business relationships or etiquette. Relationship
building and the like will usually take the form of dining or sight seeing trips rather
than lavish gifts.
• However, if a gift is given it will be accepted well. It is always a good idea to bring
gifts from your own country such as food stuffs or craft items.
• Be aware that Turkey is a Muslim country. Before giving alcohol to anyone be 100%
sure that they drink.
• The only time you would need to give any great thought to gifts would be if you were
invited to a Turk's home for dinner. The most usual gifts to take are pastries,
(especially 'baklava') and decorative items for the home such as ornaments or vases.
Flowers are not usually taken to a host but can be if felt appropriate. It is best to ask
a florist for advice on what is best to take. If the host has children take some
expensive sweets or candy.
Dining Etiquette
• Most business entertaining will take place in restaurants. Turks enjoy food and the
meal is a time for relaxing and engaging in some good conversation.
• The protocol of Turkish hospitality dictates that the host always pays for the meal.
The concept of sharing a bill is completely alien. You may try and offer to pay, which
may be seen as polite, but you would never be allowed to do so. The best policy is to
graciously thank the host then a few days later invite them to do dinner at a
restaurant of your choice. It may be a good idea to inform the restaurant manager
that under no circumstances are they to accept payment from your guests.
• Evening meals may be accompanied by some alcohol, usually the local tipple called
Raký (pronounced rak-uh). It will comprise of a few courses with the main course
always meat or fish based, accompanied by bread and a salad.
• Turks smoke during meals and will often take breaks between courses to have a
cigarette and a few drinks before moving onto the next.
• Tea or Turkish coffee is served at the end of a meal sometimes with pastries. Turkish
coffee is a national drink and should at least be sampled. It comes either without
sugar, a little sugar or sweet. Turkish coffee is sipped and allowed to melt into the
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taste buds so do not gulp it down as you would instant coffee. Never drink to the
bottom of the cup as it will be full of ground coffee and taste awful.
Business Etiquette and Protocol
Relationships & Communication
• Turks prefer to do business with those they know and respect, therefore spend time
establishing a personal relationship.
• Relationships are fostered in the office, over extended lunches, dinners, and social
outings.
• Courtesy is crucial in all business dealings.
• Turks do not require as much personal space as many other cultures and will stand
close to you while conversing.
• Do not back away, as this can be construed as unfriendly.
• Discussions may start slowly, with many questions that may seem irrelevant to the
purpose of your visit. It is extremely rude to insist that your colleagues get to the
point.
• Ask about his/her family without prying. Questions about children will be welcomed.
• The Turks are proud of their country and will enjoy answering questions on their
culture and history although be sure to avoid political history.
• Most Turkish men love football (soccer) and usually support one of three teams:
Galatasaray, Beþiktaþ or Fenerbahçe. Asking after their team's recent fortunes will
always
• produce lively and animate responses.
• Once a relationship has been established, communication is direct.
• It is vital that you maintain eye contact while speaking since Turks take this as a sign
of sincerity.
Business Meeting Etiquette
• Appointments are necessary and should be made 1 to 2 weeks in advance, preferably
by telephone.
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• Many Turks take vacation during July or August, so it is best not to try to schedule
appointments at that time.
• It is also not a good idea to schedule meetings during Ramazan (Ramadan).
• Punctuality is expected although you should be prepared to be kept waiting.
• First appointments are more social- than business-oriented since Turks prefer to do
business with people they know.
• Small talk helps establish a rapport. Do not immediately begin discussing business.
• Have all printed material available in both English and Turkish.
• Presentations should be well thought-out, thorough, and backed up with visual aids
such as maps, chart and graphs.
Business Negotiation Etiquette
• Always come to Turkey knowing two things. Your success is defined by your ability to
build effective personal relationships combined with a clearly outlined and well
presented proposal.
• Business is personal. Although this is changing with the influx of big multi-nationals
and a more corporate culture in some of the larger companies, many businesses are
still family owned and run.
• Turks will want to do business with those they like, trust, feel comfortable with and
with those that can provide a long term relationship. If they feel you are hiding
something or there is an element of suspicion about your motives you may not get
very far.
• Building a relationship with your Turkish counterpart(s) is therefore critical. The first
meeting at least should be solely focused on getting to know each other. Once a
relationship has been established you can safely move on to business matters.
• As well as looking to the person, Turks are also astute business people. Ensure your
proposal clearly demonstrates the mutual benefit and profitability of any agreement
or partnership.
• Turks are primarily oral and visual communicators so in addition to written statistics,
projections and the like try to present information vocally or with maps, graphs and
charts.
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• Decision making can be slow. It is most likely that you will meet and negotiate with
less senior members of a family first. Once you are seen as trustworthy and your
proposal financially viable you will then move on to meet more senior members. A
decision is ultimately made by the head of the family/company.
• When negotiating, the Turks will start at extremes in order to gage your response.
Prior to negotiations know your target figure and work slowly towards it through
meaningful concessions. When conceding ensure you present this as a favour and a
decision made out of respect and liking for your counterpart(s). Try and concede only
once you have gained agreement on a reciprocal concession on a separate or related
issue.
• Do not use deadlines or pressure tactics as the Turks will use this to their advantage
and reverse the tactic by threatening to cancel agreements or end negotiations. Be
patient.
It may not always be necessary to focus on financial benefits when negotiating. It is
just as useful to point to areas such as power, influence, honour, respect and other
non-monetary incentives.
Business Dress Etiquette
• Business dress is conservative. You will be expected to wear a suit and tie. Similarly
women should wear smart professional outfits.
• In the summer, and especially in the cities of Istanbul, Izmir and Anakara the weather
is very hot and humid. It is acceptable to just wear a shirt with trousers and in most
cases to not wear a tie.
• Outside the big cities and especially in the East of Turkey both women and men
should wear more conservative clothing. Women are advised to refrain from
exposing their legs and arms and to ensure clothes are not tight-fitting. Men should
not wear shorts.
Naming Conventions
• When addressing a Turk the most common method is to call a man by his first name
followed by 'bey' (pronounced bay). So, Ertan Gonca, would be Ertan Bey. Similarly a
woman's first name would be followed by 'hanim' (pronounced ha-num).
• Where professional titles exist such as Doctor or Professor, always use them either
on their own of before the first name. Curiously this is also the case with many other
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professions such as lawyers 'Avukat' or engineers 'Muhendis'. Within Turkish
companies and organisations senior ranking staff will be addressed accordingly. A
common example is Mr. Manager, 'Mudur Bey'.
• A common phrase you will hear Turks using is 'efendim' (literally 'my master'). You
may hear this from a waiter, a secretary, taxi driver, doorman, shop staff and many
others. It is simply a polite way of addressing people you are not familiar with.
Business Card Etiquette
• Business cards are exchanged without formal ritual.
• Use both hands to exchange cards.
• Present your business card to the receptionist when you arrive.
• Have one side of your business card translated into Turkish. Although not a business
necessity, it will impress your business colleagues.
• Often Turks do not give their business card unless they are certain that they wish to
establish a business relationship.
Take our Turkey Quiz and see how much you know - 85% gets you a pass!
https://www.commisceo-global.com/country-guides/turkey-guide