The values predicting patriotism attitudes in Turkey

Abstract

Today, most liberal democracies face a tension between promoting citizenship and social adaptation and between developing critical thinking skills and allowing opposition. The teaching of patriotism in schools is at the center of this tension. Within this context, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the values and the attitudes of blind and constructive patriotism by using the Schwartz’s Values Survey. The participants consisted of 342 preservice teachers in Turkey. Results showed that achievement, conformity, and tradition predicted blind patriotism positively while stimulation and universalism predicted blind patriotism negatively. On the other hand, security and universalism positively and significantly predicted constructive patriotism while tradition was a negative and significant predictor. Based on these findings, a second model involving mediation relationships was tested. Accordingly, it was observed that power mediated the relationship between conformity and blind patriotism. Thus, the non-significant and negative relationship between conformity and blind patriotism became significant and positive via the mediation of power. Similarly, the non-significant and positive relationship between the conformity and constructive patriotism became significant and negative via the mediation of power. The reason behind these findings might be the role of non-objective oral exams in teacher appointments and promotions. Moreover, the influence of political proximity to the ruling party in the employment of teachers or education administrators might have led intense and unquestionable commitment to government by conformity towards it and its actions.