Sinan Çaya
(Marmara University, Turkey)

 

 

Abstract: This paper studies the interaction of cadets (basically) with their civilian peers in a Central Anatolian city in early 1990s. The military school in question used to give a considerable boom to the relatively weak local economy in the city, a fact which the adults mostly appreciated. However, when the cadets went on leave on weekends; proud, talented and “good-shaped” as they were; they attracted the attentions of young girls. Their civilian peers reacted with envy. A competition over the admiration of girls naturally ensued. The delicate social-psychological situation easily nurtured physical conflicts in the past. Sportive confrontations especially aggravated the obvious rivalry. With the advent of the first staff-officer as the commandant in early 1990s, the trend marked a rapid change, resulting in concession from counter aggressiveness in the part of cadets. A stricter understanding of discipline and a more down-to-earth enforcement of the regulations did cause in abrupt change in the cadets’ attitudes (The replacing commandants all being staff-officers as well), the street-fighting scenes eventually literally disappeared in the city.

 

 

Key words: jealousy, competition, cadet, peer