WRITING FOR THE ALEVI ENCYCLOPEDIA:

Composing an encyclopedia entry requires a unique methodology compared to other scholarly and scientific writing types. An encyclopedia article‘s purpose, organisation, content, presentation, and tone differ significantly from research papers, essays, or academic books. This handbook outlines the basic guidelines for authors contributing to the Alevi Encyclopedia.

As it is known, an encyclopedia is typically an authoritative reference work for students and professionals. It is scholarly and well-structured yet accessible to a broader audience. Unlike dictionaries, which provide concise definitions, encyclopedias offer comprehensive discussions of a subject without the exhaustive depth of specialist texts. Entries often act as an initial reference point for those seeking a structured introduction to a topic. However, as the first of its kind, the Alevi Encyclopedia will broaden its scope to include concise, dictionary-style entries alongside detailed and systematically organised information of encyclopedic articles. In any case, the Alevi Encyclopedia will maintain academic integrity and scholarly rigour, ensuring that all contributions adhere to high research standards while offering both accessibility and intellectual depth.

Alevi Encyclopedia:

Documenting a Fragile Cultural Heritage, Defining Contested Debates The case of Alevism presents unique challenges in encyclopedic writing due to the relatively recent emergence of a written discourse on the subject. Historically, Alevism has mostly been an oral tradition, and systematic academic engagement with Alevi heritage and beliefs has only gained momentum over the past half-century. This shift coincided with the Alevi migration to urban centres in western Turkey and Europe, often following periods of trauma, discrimination, and oppression.

As a result of extensive politicisation and the formation of Alevi associations across the globe, Alevism has become a subject of intense international academic and public debate. Various ideological, religious, ethnic, and political perspectives contribute to divergent interpretations of Alevi identity and history. This plurality is also reflected within the Alevi community itself, where Alevi associations and other forms of Alevi institutions often align with different umbrella organisations, each promoting distinct narratives and agendas.

Furthermore, Alevism today serves as an umbrella term, encompassing diverse communities across the Balkans, Anatolia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East. The geographical scope expands even further to include the Iranian plateau and parts of Central and South Asia when considering the historical and modern Sufi traditions associated with Alevism. Alevis are a multilingual population with roots in different ethnic backgrounds, leading to diverse interpretations and practices. This eterogeneous nature fuels ongoing debates regarding the ethno-religious positioning of Alevis within broader political and theological frameworks.

The Urging Need for an Alevi Encyclopedia

It is an intellectually demanding and urgently needed endeavour to create an encyclopedia dedicated to Alevism. Throughout history, Alevis have faced systematic violence, forced assimilation and epistemic erasure. The lack of a widely accessible, rigorously curated source of knowledge has left Alevis’ history, culture, and beliefs vulnerable to distortion, misrepresentation, and external manipulation. An encyclopedic online platform that comprehensively reflects the diversity of Alevism is not only essential but long overdue. More importantly, it must speak in the cultural, symbolic, and emotional language of Alevis themselves, enabling them to construct and articulate their own knowledge in their own terms. Such a platform challenges colonialist, assimilationist, and other hegemonic narratives, asserting Alevi agency in the preservation and representation of their heritage. At a time when identity and memory are contested, the need for this initiative is more critical than ever.

An online, open-access encyclopedia represents a crucial step in countering these challenges, ensuring that accurate, well-researched and diverse perspectives on Alevism are available to future generations. Given the diversity of perspectives within the Alevi community, the Alevi Encyclopedia will accept multiple entries on the same topic, reflecting different scholarly approaches and interpretations.

What to Write About and How?

The Alevi Encyclopedia serves as an introductory and reference work, providing well-researched, factual, and balanced accounts of Alevi history, culture, beliefs, rituals, key figures, places, and institutions. Entries are not intended to be critical assessments or subjective interpretations but should provide essential information by addressing fundamental questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how.

When writing about individuals, authors should maintain an objective and neutral tone, avoiding hagiographic narratives. Biographical entries must include key details such as dates of birth and death, birthplace, background, education, career, and the individual’s role and contributions to Alevi history and culture. The historical and socio-political context of their influence should be clearly articulated without personal opinions or ideological interpretations.

The complexity of Alevism, shaped by diverse theological, political, and cultural perspectives, necessitates a nuanced approach. Contributions must fairly present multiple viewpoints, rather than advocating a particular stance. Entries should provide a broad and well-contextualised analysis that introduces readers—including advanced undergraduates, postgraduates, and researchers—to key debates, primary sources, and secondary literature on the topic. The objective is to equip readers with the necessary knowledge to engage critically and independently with existing scholarship.

Authors should prioritise clarity, ensuring that entries are neither idiosyncratic nor polemical but instead present competing arguments with balance and scholarly rigour. Controversial claims must be explicitly identified, and novel arguments should only be introduced if they are firmly grounded in the established literature. Self-promotion and subjective commentary should be avoided.

By adhering to these principles, the Alevi Encyclopedia ensures that its entries remain academically rigorous, accessible, and reflective of the plurality within Alevi studies, allowing readers to develop informed perspectives on the subject.

Academic and Methodological Standards

Despite the plurality of perspectives, all contributions to the Alevi Encyclopedia must adhere to strict scholarly standards, which include:

Objectivity: Entries must be neutral, well-balanced, and free from partisan bias or ideological rhetoric.

Scholarly Rigour: Entries should be based on reliable academic sources, primary documents, and verifiable data.

Clarity and Accessibility: Articles should be written in a concise, clear, and accessible style, making complex topics understandable to both academic and general audiences.

Referencing and Citation: Authors must properly cite their sources using the guidelines for the Alevi Encyclopedia.

Diversity of Perspectives: Entries should acknowledge alternative viewpoints and provide a balanced representation of debates within Alevi Studies.

Clarity, Accessibility, and Tone

All entries should be written in a formal tone, maintaining academic objectivity and avoiding personal opinions or evaluative statements. Instead, claims should be supported by historical and scientific evidence.

• Entries should adhere to academic writing standards but be accessible to a broad readership. Authors should assume that their audience may be unfamiliar with the topic and strive for clarity and precision in their writing.
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• To ensure readability, long and complex sentences and overly technical terminology, should be avoided. Instead, technical terms should be clearly explained in plain or pre-defined language.
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• The language should be clear, precise, and specific, minimising unnecessary jargon.
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• Entries should avoid subjective or emotional language that might imply bias or advocacy.
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• When discussing controversial issues, the entry must acknowledge multiple perspectives and ensure that all significant interpretations and debates are fairly represented.

Contact

For further information or inquiries, please feel free to contact the Founding-Editorial Board of the Alevi Encyclopedia.

Email: [email protected]