Volume 14, Issue 4 (Political researches of the Islamic world, winter 2024)
پژوهشهاي سياسي جهان اسلام 2024, 14(4): 45-69 |
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Jmashidi Fard K, Shirodi M, Maghsoudi M. Conflict, Power, and Identity: A Study of Kurdish Identity Transformations within the Political Structure of Turkey (2002–2024). پژوهشهاي سياسي جهان اسلام 2024; 14 (4) :45-69
URL: http://priw.ir/article-1-1999-en.html
URL: http://priw.ir/article-1-1999-en.html
1- PhD student in Political Sociology, Islamic Azad University, Faculty of Science and Research, Tehran, Iran(responsible Author) , k.jamshidifard@gmail.com
2- Associate Professor of the Politics Department of the Islamic Civilization and Religion Research Center of the Great Prophet , Qom, Iran
3- Associate Professor Department of Political Science ,Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
2- Associate Professor of the Politics Department of the Islamic Civilization and Religion Research Center of the Great Prophet , Qom, Iran
3- Associate Professor Department of Political Science ,Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (43 Views)
The transformation of ethnic identity in conflict-affected societies constitutes a pivotal theme within the fields of political sociology and ethnic studies, as it reflects the dynamic interplay between power, resistance, and identity formation. This study explores the central question of how the protracted armed conflict between the Turkish state and Kurdish groups from 2002 to 2024 has shaped the trajectory of Kurdish ethnic identity transformation and influenced the Kurds' socio-political status within Turkey. Drawing on a qualitative methodology and a document analysis approach, the research is grounded in Richard Jenkins’ social identity theory, which conceptualizes identity as a fluid, dialectical process shaped by the interaction of individual agency, institutional power, and social categorization.
The core hypothesis posits that the enduring nature of the conflict and the persistence of a centralized and exclusionary power structure have significantly reinforced Kurdish ethnic identity, deepening its salience and distinctiveness in opposition to the dominant national identity promoted by the state. This hypothesis is critically evaluated against an alternative framework that attributes identity transformation primarily to processes of globalization, economic development, and generational change.
The findings reveal that, despite intermittent periods of political liberalization and peace initiatives, particularly during the early 2010s, the reintensification of violence and the breakdown of the peace process have substantially contributed to the consolidation and differentiation of Kurdish identity. This process has occurred through mechanisms of collective memory, political mobilization, and the social reproduction of ethnic boundaries.
By confirming the primacy of conflict and power structures over other explanatory variables, the study highlights the instrumental role of sustained political violence and institutional configurations in shaping collective identities in multi-ethnic states. The research offers broader implications for understanding the identity politics of marginalized groups in contested nation-states and contributes to ongoing debates about ethnicity, power, and state-society relations in conflict-prone regions.
The core hypothesis posits that the enduring nature of the conflict and the persistence of a centralized and exclusionary power structure have significantly reinforced Kurdish ethnic identity, deepening its salience and distinctiveness in opposition to the dominant national identity promoted by the state. This hypothesis is critically evaluated against an alternative framework that attributes identity transformation primarily to processes of globalization, economic development, and generational change.
The findings reveal that, despite intermittent periods of political liberalization and peace initiatives, particularly during the early 2010s, the reintensification of violence and the breakdown of the peace process have substantially contributed to the consolidation and differentiation of Kurdish identity. This process has occurred through mechanisms of collective memory, political mobilization, and the social reproduction of ethnic boundaries.
By confirming the primacy of conflict and power structures over other explanatory variables, the study highlights the instrumental role of sustained political violence and institutional configurations in shaping collective identities in multi-ethnic states. The research offers broader implications for understanding the identity politics of marginalized groups in contested nation-states and contributes to ongoing debates about ethnicity, power, and state-society relations in conflict-prone regions.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2024/08/18 | Accepted: 2024/11/23 | Published: 2024/12/21
Received: 2024/08/18 | Accepted: 2024/11/23 | Published: 2024/12/21
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