Turkey - Country Profile

Turkey

Power Distance Index (PDI) that is the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions (like the family) accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. This represents inequality (more versus less), but defined from below, not from above. It suggests that a society's level of inequality is endorsed by the followers as much as by the leaders. Power and inequality, of course, are extremely fundamental facts of any society and anybody with some international experience will be aware that 'all societies are unequal, but some are more unequal than others'.

According to Geert Hofstedes web site for Turkey that measure is 67. This means there is a perceived and accepted social distance in Turkey. This is demonstrated by their show of respect for their elder population and those of authority. An example of showing respect would be to call a manager “Mr. Manager” (mudur) instead of the common greeting of calling a man by his first name, followed by the word, “bey” which is a masculine reference.

Turkey is considered to have a high Power Distance because of its strong association with religion. Just recently in its attempt to become more westernized and secular, the Power Distance has began to decline and will continue to as religion doesn’t play as large of a role in their lives.

Individualism (IDV) on the one side versus its opposite, collectivism, that is the degree to which individuals are inte-grated into groups. On the individualist side we find societies in which the ties between individuals are loose: everyone is expected to look after him/herself and his/her immediate family. On the collectivist side, we find societies in which people from birth onwards are integrated into strong, cohesive in-groups, often extended families (with uncles, aunts and grandparents) which continue protecting them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty. The word 'collectivism' in this sense has no political meaning: it refers to the...