MESA Banner
The European Union (EU) and the Kurdish Question in Turkey: A Challenge to Kurdish Nationalism
Abstract
The construction and politicization of Kurdish ethno-nationalism in Turkey has evolved through numerous different stages. The state’s policies are the determinant factors in the evolution and modulation of Kurdish ethno-nationalism. The major reason for the politicization of Kurdish cultural identity is the shift from the multi-ethnic, multi-cultural realities of the Ottoman Empire to the nation-state model. The old sources of legitimacy, i.e. Islam and the caliphate, were destroyed. The new order of forced homogenizing nationalism has been the major source of conflict in Turkey. The current waves of identity claims are the reflection of a deeper search for legitimacy and meaning in the post-Ottoman system. The relatively successful modernization project of Mustafa Kemal in education, urbanization, and communication not only created regional differences, but also helped to create a conscious Kurdish ethnic elite. The interpretation of this regional difference and the formation of the new Kurdish elite are the very reasons for the mobilization of Kurdish nationalism in Turkey. After considering the construction and politicization of Kurdish ethno-nationalsim in Turkey this paper will examine the impact of the European Union on the Kurdish question in terms of the Europeanization of the Kurdish question in Turkey and the existing and potential reasons for and against Kurdish autonomy in Turkey. The EU might function as an intermediary between the Kurdish aspirations and the Turkish state. Turkish Kurds are divided on the question of Europe's role. The extreme Kurdish nationalists regard European integration as an obstacle to the achievement of its goal of a united pan-Kurdistan. The material used to write this paper has largely been gathered through field work in Turkey. The paper’s methodology will employ objective criteria as a means of content analysis of the sources to develop its thesis and reach its conclusions.
Discipline
Political Science
Geographic Area
Kurdistan
Sub Area
None