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The transformation of Kurdish political identity in Turkey: Impact of modernization, democratization and globalization

Posted on:2010-02-28Degree:Ph.DType:Thesis
University:The University of UtahCandidate:Uslu, EmrullahFull Text:PDF
GTID:2446390002971929Subject:History
Abstract/Summary:
In this dissertation I examine the impact of transformation in opportunity space, organizational structure, and cultural framing efforts of the political actors on Kurdish political identity. Applying a synthesis of social movement theories and theories on nationalism, I seek to explore why and how a political identity is transformed. My main research question is why and under what conditions one component of Kurdish identity becomes dominant over other components in a certain period. The answer to this question lies in transformation of political space and role of political entrepreneurs. The first dramatic transformation in opportunity space was the transition in state structure from the imperial state system to the nation-state system. The transition was a gradual development that aimed to modernize society. When the implications of the modernization process arrived the in the Kurdish region through state led modernization projects such as schools, print media, etc., Kurdish nationalists were empowered and they found available opportunity space to mobilize Kurdish masses around the Kurdish nationalist principles.;I have two theoretical claims. First, nationalism is an outcome of the modernization projects. The state plays an important role in standardizing nationalist messages through its institutions and standardized education policies. However besides the state, nationalist organizations also have the ability to crystallize nationalist messages if a given society has no state to standardize nationalist message. Second, I argue, it is the transformation of political opportunity space that facilitates the transformation of political identity. Transformation in opportunity space produce/reproduce new political actors whose mobilization strategies may open new avenues in shaping political identities. The resource mobilization strategies chosen by actors shape the direction of identity transformation. To shape the direction of political identity what needs to be created is the availability of political entrepreneurs and their willingness to establish collective vehicles to disseminate shared understanding of the world around a given society enables collective action.
Keywords/Search Tags:Transformation, Political, Opportunity space, Kurdish, Modernization
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