‘My state is my father’: youth unemployment experiences under the weak state welfare provisions of Turkey

Abstract

Young people are expected to establish a sense of personal identity and become progressively more independent of their parents, maturing into adults and citizens. Paid work is the key to this transition. Without this, youth would not be able to shift from childhood to adulthood and from dependence to independence. Among the other conditions that influence this transition, two are particularly important: the family and the welfare system. This study focuses on the unemployment experiences of youth in Turkey. Who gives support to the unemployed youth, and by what means is this support provided? The possible divisions of responsibility between the welfare system and family have both positive and negative outcomes. If the state assumes more responsibility than families do as the primary provider, this would create a ‘dependence culture’. On the other hand, if the family becomes the sole supporter of unemployed youth, would this lead to other unexpected consequences? This paper will focus on the answer to this question.