‘Sold Out to the Enemy’: Emerging Symbolic Boundaries in Kurdish Politics and the Strategic Uses of Labeling Treason
Why do the pro-Kurdish activists selectively condemn renowned leftists of treason? Why are allegations of treachery so ubiquitous? Existing literature suggests that the Kurdish community would be particularly receptive to allegations of treason because of its tribal structure and strong cultural cod...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Association pour la Recherche sur le Moyen-Orient
2013-01-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Turkish Studies |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/ejts/4629 |
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| _version_ | 1846134550585933824 |
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| author | Mustafa E. Gurbuz |
| author_facet | Mustafa E. Gurbuz |
| author_sort | Mustafa E. Gurbuz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Why do the pro-Kurdish activists selectively condemn renowned leftists of treason? Why are allegations of treachery so ubiquitous? Existing literature suggests that the Kurdish community would be particularly receptive to allegations of treason because of its tribal structure and strong cultural codes. Drawing on the niche theory, this article argues contrary that competition over Kurdish nationalism is the key to explain the growing symbolic politics. Especially in the past decade, the PKK’s monopoly over Kurdish identity has been challenged strongly by both Islamic and leftist groups. Analyzing recent contestations over Kurdish national identity, the article illuminates how the construction of external threats and symbolic boundary making appear in the form of labeling treason. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e918c2cd4de44f9193b69b42f45316c9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1773-0546 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Association pour la Recherche sur le Moyen-Orient |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Turkish Studies |
| spelling | doaj-art-e918c2cd4de44f9193b69b42f45316c92024-12-09T13:09:20ZengAssociation pour la Recherche sur le Moyen-OrientEuropean Journal of Turkish Studies1773-05462013-01-011410.4000/ejts.4629‘Sold Out to the Enemy’: Emerging Symbolic Boundaries in Kurdish Politics and the Strategic Uses of Labeling TreasonMustafa E. GurbuzWhy do the pro-Kurdish activists selectively condemn renowned leftists of treason? Why are allegations of treachery so ubiquitous? Existing literature suggests that the Kurdish community would be particularly receptive to allegations of treason because of its tribal structure and strong cultural codes. Drawing on the niche theory, this article argues contrary that competition over Kurdish nationalism is the key to explain the growing symbolic politics. Especially in the past decade, the PKK’s monopoly over Kurdish identity has been challenged strongly by both Islamic and leftist groups. Analyzing recent contestations over Kurdish national identity, the article illuminates how the construction of external threats and symbolic boundary making appear in the form of labeling treason.https://journals.openedition.org/ejts/4629PKKniche theorysymbolic politicscultural contestation. |
| spellingShingle | Mustafa E. Gurbuz ‘Sold Out to the Enemy’: Emerging Symbolic Boundaries in Kurdish Politics and the Strategic Uses of Labeling Treason European Journal of Turkish Studies PKK niche theory symbolic politics cultural contestation. |
| title | ‘Sold Out to the Enemy’: Emerging Symbolic Boundaries in Kurdish Politics and the Strategic Uses of Labeling Treason |
| title_full | ‘Sold Out to the Enemy’: Emerging Symbolic Boundaries in Kurdish Politics and the Strategic Uses of Labeling Treason |
| title_fullStr | ‘Sold Out to the Enemy’: Emerging Symbolic Boundaries in Kurdish Politics and the Strategic Uses of Labeling Treason |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘Sold Out to the Enemy’: Emerging Symbolic Boundaries in Kurdish Politics and the Strategic Uses of Labeling Treason |
| title_short | ‘Sold Out to the Enemy’: Emerging Symbolic Boundaries in Kurdish Politics and the Strategic Uses of Labeling Treason |
| title_sort | sold out to the enemy emerging symbolic boundaries in kurdish politics and the strategic uses of labeling treason |
| topic | PKK niche theory symbolic politics cultural contestation. |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/ejts/4629 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mustafaegurbuz soldouttotheenemyemergingsymbolicboundariesinkurdishpoliticsandthestrategicusesoflabelingtreason |