This paper explores the phenomenon of academic inbreeding in Turkey’s higher education through the experiences of academics. Using purposive sampling, 16 academics were interviewed through semi-structured questions, and descriptive and content analysis were employed. Results suggest that there are some commonalities yet some differences in the perspectives of academics. There exists a good agreement on the idea that the limitation of inbreeding practice would be legitimate, yet, inbred academics consider inbreeding as useful and reasonable whereas non-inbred describe it inevitable and problematic. Participants identified the main motives of inbreeding in Turkish academia as provincialism, academic nepotism, eastern culture, and institutional culture and traditions. Each theme is discussed based on both narratives and related literature, and implications are presented.
Demirkasımoğlu et al. (Thu,) studied this question.