Comparison of Ukrainian and Turkish Law Students' Attitudes towards Democratic Values: Cross-cultural Study

Fethi Kayalar

doi:10.13189/ujer.2016.040214

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine Ukrainian and Turkish law students' attitudes towards democratic values and the factors that may affect these values and to compare them in terms of different variables. This study is a descriptive survey model. The research consists of total 226 students from three Schools of Law, two in Turkey and one in Ukraine, whose race, religion, culture and languages are different. We tried to determine their attitudes towards democratic values regarding as age, gender, grade, level of parents' education, accommodation types. We applied Democratic Values Scale with 17 items developed by Cermik. We have concluded that comprehensive democratic activities should be created and the curriculum equipped with democratic values should be regulated and implemented so that potential future lawyers, legists, policy makers, politicians and administrators to be graduated from Schools of Law can eliminate discrimination and distribute the rights equally and establish democratic order and social justice, promote and defend the freedom of thought.

Highlights

The aim of this study is to examine the vision, mission and values of Law Schools and democratic values of Law students in Turkey and Ukraine in the frame of cross cultural comparison, and the factors that may affect these values in terms of different variables
According to the variable of accommodation place, the democratic values of the students staying at crowded places like dorms and hostels are determined to be significantly higher than those at places like home where very few people live
Respectful that the people living in the countries like Turkey and Ukraine have different cultures, different languages, and different ethnics, we have concluded that comprehensive activities should be created and the curriculum should be regulated and prepared so as to eliminate discrimination and distribute the rights especially in regard of Law students paying more attention to democratic values

Summary

Introduction

The aim of this study is to examine the vision, mission and values of Law Schools and democratic values of Law students in Turkey and Ukraine in the frame of cross cultural comparison, and the factors that may affect these values in terms of different variables.1.1. Democracy is a set of ideas and principles about freedom, but it consists of a set of practices and procedures that have been moulded through a long, often winding history. Gayechuway[1] argues that the right to equality before the law, or equal protection of the law as it is often emphasized, is fundamental to any just and democratic society. Democratic values are categorised into fundamental beliefs which include life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, common good, justice, equality, diversity, truth, popular sovereignty, patriotism, and constitutional principles which include rule of law, separation of powers, representative government, checks and balances, individual rights, freedom of religion, federalism, civilian control of the military. One of the basis of democratic thoughts, multiculturalism is not restricted to colour of people, it is a universal issue that needs implementation in educational institutions, on all levels [2]

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