SOAS Research Online

Abstract

This thesis offers a comprehensive investigation into the organizational structures and attributes of Religiously Motivated Welfare Organizations (RMWOs) engaged in poverty alleviation initiatives in Türkiye. Utilizing a social relations approach to institutional analysis, the study scrutinizes the role of religion and gender in shaping institutional practices and poverty reduction endeavours. Drawing on 197 in-depth interviews—both face-to-face and online—as well as seven months of ethnographic research involving a range of stakeholders from donors and employees to volunteers and beneficiaries, the study finds that RMWOs have swiftly emerged as a crucial conduit for poverty relief in Türkiye. In numerous instances, these organizations serve as the sole support mechanism for economically disadvantaged families. However, the thesis also uncovers that the practices and institutional characteristics within these RMWOs often perpetuate discourses of poverty and marginalization without addressing their underlying causes or contesting prevailing gender norms.