SOCIAL TRUST; A CONFUSION BETWEEN LOST AND WON A COMPARATIVE ENCOUNTER WITH SOCIAL TRUST AMONG THE YEZIDIS OF ARMENIA AND NORTH IRAQ

Abstract

The notion of trust is sparkling at the heart of social capital. Simply a two-word concept, social trust has proven to be an intriguing concept, one which has captured the interest and imagination of scholars, researchers, and professionals alike. The study of social trust among ethnic minorities is especially the object of current public concern. Although much ink has been spilled by researchers to dissect the state of social trust in burgeoning democracies, direct study of this concept is lacking among Yezidi communities. In an attempt to address this imbalance, therefore, the overriding concern of this paper has been to examine the state of social trust among two geographically different communities of the Yezidis; the Yezidis of Armenia and the Yezidi community of north Iraq. Therefore, the main question addressed in this paper is how much diversity in the level of trust may exist between these two communities. Along with shedding light on this question, the paper suggests feasible procedures, that if taken, the deficit of trust in some Yezidi-populated areas may be promoted.