In this essay, I will compare several theories about the origin of conflicts with the Kurdish-Turkish conflict. I will start to illustrate the connection between "War and Misperception (Jervis 1988) and the conflict; further I want to disclose the theory of "Identity and Conflict" (Brewer 2011) and "The Cultural Dynamics of Ethnic Conflict" (Ross 1998) in relation to the history of the Kurds.
The Kurdish-Turkish conflict is an armed conflict between the Republic of Turkey and various Kurdish insurgent groups, which have demanded separation from Turkey to create an independent Kurdistan, or to have autonomy and greater political and cultural rights for Kurds inside the Republic of Turkey. The main rebel group is the Kurdistan Workers' Party or PKK, which is considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States, the European Union and NATO. The PKK was founded in 1978.
There have been many revolts between the Turkish and Kurdish population in the history; but the revolt since 1984, when the PKK attacked Turkish police stations and military bases, is the longest ongoing since ever. In 2013, Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the PKK, announced the end of armed struggle and a ceasefire with peace talks.
The Kurdish population with 25-30 Million people are worldwide the biggest nation without a state. They are divided into several states in which they live as a minority. Most Kurdish people live in Turkey and Iraq, but there are also minorities in Iran and northern Syria. In every country the Kurdish population needs to fight for recognition and equal rights, but the strongest troubles took place in Turkey.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. War and Misperception
3. Identity of Conflict and The cultural dynamics of Ethnic Conflicts
Research Objectives and Themes
This essay aims to analyze the origins and escalation of the Turkish-Kurdish conflict by applying established social-psychological and political theories to the historical context of the region.
- The role of misperception in escalating interstate and intrastate conflict.
- The impact of state-enforced assimilation policies on collective and group identity.
- The correlation between symbolic threats to cultural traditions and the rise of ethnic violence.
- Theoretical application of Jervis, Brewer, and Ross to the Turkish-Kurdish historical timeline.
Excerpt from the Book
“Identity of Conflict” and “The cultural dynamics of Ethnic Conflicts”
Brewer asserts in her essay about identity and conflict that group identity or collective identity had often been implicated in the origin and maintenance of intergroup conflict. When a group identity is important and salient, the individual would be motivated to enhance group welfare and protect group interests, including defending the group boundaries from encroachment, protecting group values from dilution, and preserving group integrity. Concerns for symbolic threats to group values and icons or lack of respect and recognition would be often conceptualized as the subjective “irrational” bases of intergroup hostility and fear, posed in opposition to concerns for objective or “realistic” threats to material welfare and group existence as posited by rational actor theories of group behaviour (Brewer 2011, p.125). This theory explains the development of the build-up of arms of the PKK: The Turkish politics eliminated the word “Kurds” from use, the Kurdish language was banned and Turkish names replaced Kurdish names for children and towns. Education in schools was forbidden in Kurdish language, definitions and explanations about Kurds and their (historical) housing development area were banished. The Turkish politic of assimilation denied the cultural and ethnic differences.
In opposite of that, Brewer explains the importance of group identification for the self: Identity is central to how people make sense of the world (p.134). A particular individual belongs or does not belong, respectively, to social groupings. In-group membership would be more than cognitive classification: it carries emotional significance as well (p.126). Cooperation between individuals will occur only to the extend that they have a high proportion of shared genes, since helping close relatives perpetuate ones own genes. Further, for one group to maintain its legitimacy, it must delegitimize the other (p.135). Once a people feels wronged or humiliated, they are vulnerable to political leaders or demogogs who exploit the sense of fear, humiliation, and victimization to define themselve in terms of this offended identity, suppress other allegiances, inflame vengeance against the offending “other” and set the stage for war and lethal violence (p.137).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Provides an overview of the long-standing Turkish-Kurdish conflict and outlines the author's intention to apply three specific academic theories to understand its roots.
2. War and Misperception: Examines how Jervis’s theory on misperception explains the mutual mistrust and threat overestimation between the Turkish state and Kurdish groups.
3. Identity of Conflict and The cultural dynamics of Ethnic Conflicts: Applies Brewer's identity theories and Ross's cultural analysis to explain how the denial of Kurdish cultural expression contributed to the radicalization of the conflict.
Keywords
Turkish-Kurdish conflict, PKK, Misperception, Identity, Culture, Assimilation, Ethnic Conflict, Abdullah Öcalan, Statehood, Nationalism, Political Violence, Group Identity, Sovereignty, Social Psychology, Ethnic Minorities
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this essay?
The essay explores the underlying causes of the Turkish-Kurdish conflict by examining how psychological, identity-based, and cultural factors contributed to its development and escalation.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The central themes include the role of misperception in conflict, the impact of forced cultural assimilation, the importance of group identity, and the political relevance of cultural traditions.
What is the core research objective?
The objective is to interpret the historical progression of the Turkish-Kurdish conflict through the lens of specific academic theories to determine why peaceful cohabitation proved difficult.
Which scientific theories are utilized?
The author uses Robert Jervis’s theory of "War and Misperception," Marilynn Brewer’s "Identity and Conflict," and Marc Howard Ross’s "The Cultural Dynamics of Ethnic Conflict."
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers the history of Kurdish autonomy, the rise of the PKK in response to state assimilation, and the mutual overestimation of threats between Turkish and Kurdish parties.
How would you describe the keyword profile of this study?
The study is characterized by keywords relating to conflict resolution, ethnic identity, nationalism, political science, and the specific historical dynamics of the Kurdish population in Turkey.
How does the author apply the theory of misperception to the PKK?
The author argues that both the Turkish state and Kurdish rebels engaged in reciprocal overestimation of threats, leading to a breakdown in diplomacy and a preference for armed struggle.
What role does the Newroz festival play in the author's argument?
The author uses the embargo on the Kurdish Newroz festival as a concrete case study for how the state’s denial of cultural legitimacy acts as a catalyst for increased aggression and political resentment.
Does the author conclude that misperception is the sole cause of the conflict?
No, the author suggests that while misperception is a key factor, the situation is complex and that labeling it merely as a "perception" remains a theoretical and speculative endeavor.
What does the text suggest about the possibility of a political solution?
The text notes that the political situation has evolved, with both sides now showing a greater aspiration toward finding a political solution through cooperation rather than conflict.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Uta Freyer (Autor:in), 2014, The Kurdish-Turkish Conflict and its Relation to the Theories of Misperception, Identity and Culture, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/301364
