Functions of post‐disaster collective action: An ethnographic perspective on the silent walk commemorating the 2023 Türkiye earthquakes

Abstract This study examines the functions of collective action for people who experienced a disaster. Data were collected through ethnography and individual interviews with 22 people who participated in a silent walk, an anniversary event for the earthquake that occurred on February 6, 2023. The thematic analysis of the interviews and field reports identified the functions at three levels: First, at the individual level by contributing to people's psychological well‐being positively and giving people a sense of efficacy; second, at the community level by giving people a sense of shared identity with others; third, at the policy level by giving people a space to express their discontent with various political agendas. The findings emphasize the necessity of policy‐level change to ensure the sustainability of these transformations. The study highlights that collective action organized by people from the public can be a significant step toward raising awareness of the need for policy change.