The Kurds of Turkey: National, Religious and Economic Identities

(Hardback)

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In fact, Kurds in Turkey have many diverse political and ideological orientations. Focusing on the elites of these informal groups - national, religious and economic - Cuma Cicek analyses the consequences of the divisions and subsequent prospects of consensus building. Using an innovative theoretical framework founded on constructivism, the 'three 'I's' model and various strands of sociology, Cicek considers the dynamics that affect the Kurds in Turkey across issues as diverse as the central state, geopolitics, nationalism, Europeanisation and globalisation. In so doing, he examines the consensus-building process of 1999-2015 and presents the possible route to a unified Kurdish political state.Cicek's in-depth and meticulously researched work adds an indispensable layer of nuance to our conception of the Kurdish community. This is an important book for students or researchers with an interest in the history and present of the Kurds and their future in Turkey and across the Middle East.

Reviews

'Cuma Cicek's The Kurds of Turkey is a serious and thoughtful approach to understanding the dynamic nature of the construction of the Kurdish identity. Cicek builds his own constructivist analysis on two different sets of actors and factors into his study. First, he weaves in the interests and behaviour of different Kurdish actors, whether they are national, religious or economic. Second, he makes sure that factors ranging from globalisation, geopolitics, Europeanisation and central state behaviour are given their requisite due. The Turkish Kurds he argues have achieved a great deal in building a common identity but have failed to act collectively as result of their own shortcomings and the damaging role of the state.' - Henri Barkey, Director of the Middle East Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 'The Kurdish question in Turkey has mainly been analysed in terms of either the Turkish state's oppression or PKK's resistance. This book, however, examines the Kurdish question in Turkey with a particular emphasis on the national, religous and class dynamics of Kurdish society in Turkey. Relying on field research and extensive analysis of election results, Cuma Cicek's work shows how a Kurdish political region is consituted in the midst of economic and cultural as well as local and regional dynamics. The Kurds of Turkey will enrich our understanding of the Kurdish question not only in Turkey, but in the Middle East.' - Mesut Yegen, Istanbul Sehir University, 'In a period of increasing political tensions between the central Turkish state and the Kurdish population Cuma Cicek is offering a fascinating analysis of the capacity of different Kurdish groups to recombine their historical identity in order to build their own community. By insisting on the representations, interests and institutions which frame Kurdish political and social action Cicek makes us clearly understanding the difficult negotiations carried out with the central Turkish state, the EU and other global economic actors. Sociological and political concepts such as regionalisation, Europeanisation and globalisation are revisited to stress the capacity of different social and economic groups to defend their political and economic identity within a very confused and dangerous region of the world.' - Francois Bafoil, CNRS Senior Research Felllow, Sciences Po CERI, Paris, 'Cuma Cicek's in-depth survey and analysis shed an impressive light on the formation of an autonomous Kurdish space in Turkey over the previous few decades. While being overwhelmingly dominated by the Kurdish issue as a national issue, this space has gradually grown into a highly plural one, with its political, religious and economic actors defending contrasted interests and developing differentiated modes of action.' - Hamit Bozarslan, Ecole des hautes etudes en sciences sociales, Paris, 'Cuma Cicek writes on the Kurdish reality in Turkey, not only with vitality and a constant awareness of the bitterness of the issues at stake, but also as calmly and objectively as possible. The rich materials that he uses make the picture he draws detailed and coloured. In the book, a broadminded analysis emerges that is not trapped among the short-lived political constellations. He forms a consistent matrix with a multi-dimensional analysis taking into consideration the multiplicity of actors, interests, conflicts and necessities.' - Tanil Bora, author of more than ten books on Turkish politics, editor of Birikim and guest lecturer at Ankara University

Author Bio

Cuma Cicek is assistant professor in the Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences at Mardin Artuklu University, Turkey. He received his PhD from Sciences Po in Paris and has published several books in Turkish.