The Political Sociology of Kurdish Nationalism in Turkey

Abstract

Abstract This thesis analyzes the causes, development, and consequences of Kurdish nationalism in Turkey using secondary documentary research and a hybrid theoretical framework integrating ethno-symbolism and historical-sociological approaches. It begins by examining the historical formation of the Kurdish people and their homeland, Kurdistan, tracing the evolution of tribal social structures shaped by geographical and environmental conditions. The study shows how tribal units transformed into political entities following the rise of Islam and later developed into local emirates. It further explores the impact of regional geopolitical conflicts, particularly between the Sunni Ottoman and Shiite Safavid empires, and demonstrates how Kurdish alliances with the Ottomans contributed to the formation of Ottoman Kurdistan after the Battle of Chaldiran in 1514. The subsequent collapse of the Kurdish emirates in the nineteenth century, driven by Ottoman centralization and internal divisions, created a political and social crisis that elevated religious leadership and led to early nationalist rebellions, including that of Sheikh Ubaydallah in 1880. The thesis then examines the consequences of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the unfulfilled promises of Kurdish self-determination in the Treaty of Sèvres (1920), and the territorial division of Kurdistan under the Treaty of Lausanne (1923). It analyzes the suppression of Kurdish uprisings and the assimilationist policies of the Kemalist state, including bans on Kurdish language and culture, which profoundly shaped Kurdish national consciousness. Particular attention is given to the “Silent Period” (1938–1979), during which repression and socio-economic transformations contributed to the emergence of modern Kurdish political mobilization. Finally, the thesis investigates the rise of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its ideological transformation from a Marxist-Leninist national liberation movement into a libertarian socialist movement advocating democratic confederalism. It examines the PKK’s role in reshaping Kurdish political identity, its emphasis on gender equality, and its critique of nation-state nationalism. The study concludes that Kurdish nationalism in Turkey reflects a historically rooted and evolving social phenomenon and highlights the significance of alternative political models in addressing stateless national movements. It also offers recommendations for future research on the political sociology of Kurdish nationalism and comparative studies of stateless nations.