Self-Identification of Indigeneity within Turkey’s Kurdish Political Movement

Abstract

Abstract Self-identification is a vital element in ethnic identity especially in the sense of indigenousness. This concept not only has been of concern for scholars, but also it is recognized as the most important definitive item in international law by such organizations as the UN, the World Bank and the ILO. This article focuses on self-identification of Kurdish ethnic identity by investigating how and to what extent indigeneity is expressed within the discourse on Kurdishness. Although the Kurds commonly are defined as an ethnic minority, the representatives of Turkey’s Kurdish political movement certainly refuse to be identified as such. The claim of pre-existence/indigenousness of the Kurds appears particularly in two levels that include the narrative of being an ‘autochthonous nation’ of Mesopotamia (‘kadim halk' in Turkish). Second, in reference to an agreement between Turks and Kurds during the First World War, Kurds are described as one of the ‘primary components [asli unsur in Turkish] of the Turkish Republic. To explore the concept of indigeneity based on self-identification within the discourse about Kurdishness, this article specifically examines how the Kurdish political movement in Turkey has a significant influence in regional politics and growing grassroots support.